LIBRARY  OF  PRINCETON 


AUG  1  1  2005 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


BV  1505  .W6  1889 
World's  Sunday-School 

Convention  (1st  ;  1889  : 

The  World's  Sunday-school 

Convention,  held  in  the 


LIBRARY  OfpRINCETON 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


THE  WORLD'S 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL  CONVENTION: 


THE  CONGREGATIONAL  MEMORIAL  HALL 


CITY  TEMPLE,  LONDON. 


A  COMPLETE  RECORD 


PROCEEDINGS  DAY  BY  DAY,  JULY  i  TO  6,  1889. 


jfleintno  1l3.  IRcvcll  :  : 


New  York : 
12  bible  house.  astor  place. 


Chicago: 
148  amd  150  madison  street. 


publisbcr  of  Evangelical  literature 


In  compliance  with  current  copyright  law,  the 
Etherington  Conservation  Services  produced 
this  replacement  volume  on  paper  that  meets 
ANSI  Standard  Z39.48-1992R  (1997)  to  replace 
the  irreparably  deteriorated  original. 

(oo) 

2005 


INTRODUCTION 


TO  THE 


AMERICAN    EDITION. 


LIBRARY  OF  PRINCIETON 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


THE  WORLD'S  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  CONVENTION. 

AN  INTRODUCTION. 


Tile  suggestion  that  a  conveuliou  of  Suuday-scliool  -workers 
from  all  parts  of  the  world  be  held  iu  the  city  of  London,  Eng- 
land, during  the  year  of  1889  having  been  favorably  considered 
by  the  International  Executive  Sunday-School  Committee    at 
their  meeting  held  at  Chautauqua  in  1886,  was  presented  to  the 
International  Sunday-School  CJonvention  of  the  workers  of  the 
United    Stales   and   British   North  American  Provinces,  at  the 
Convention  held  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  June  of  the 
year  of  1887,  and  unaninrously  adopted.     The  work  of  prepar- 
ing for  the  Convention  was  left  to  the  International  Executive 
Committee,   and  to   representative  workers  in  Foreign   lands. 
The  presence  at  the  Chicago  Convention  of  Mr.  Edward  Towers, 
one  of  the  honorary  Secretaries  of  the  London  Sunday-School 
Union,  made  it  easy  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  London 
Sunday-School  Union,  and  through  them  and  by  correspondence 
the  co-operation  of  the  Sunday-school  workers  on  the  continent, 
and  in  other  lands  Avere   secured.     The  details  of   the  Avork  in 
America  was  intrusted  to  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  B. 
F.  Jacobs  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  as  chairman  ;    W.  A.  Duncan  of 
New  York,    Lewis   Collins  of   Kentucky,   J.   C.  Courtney  of 
Georgia,  and  Lewis  C.  Peak  of  Ontario.  A  similar  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  London  Sunday-School  Union.      The  greatest 
problem  was  then  to  secure  a  sufficient  number  of  delegates  to 
make  the  long  trip  across  the  ocean;  and  to  arouse  enthu.siasm 
and  to  overcome  this  difficulty,  it  was  proposed  that  arrange- 
ments be  made  with  one  of  the  steamship  lines  to  charter  an 
ocean  steamer,  or  at  lea.st  to  secure  accommodations  on  one  ship 
for  all  the  delegates  who  were  willing  to  make  the  trip  together. 
For  this  purjiose  a  special  committee  was  appointed  on  transpor- 
tation, consisting  of  W.  N.  Hartshorn  of  Massachusetts,  W.  A. 
Duncan  of  New  York,  and  E.  S.  Ormsby  of  Iowa.      Arrange- 
ments were  finally  made  with  the  Cunard  Company,  which  re- 
sulted in  our  securing  for  the  delegates  the  steamship  Bothnia. 
The  committee  on  transportation  issued  a  circular,  and  entere- 


upou  the  loug  and  dirticuU  task  of  correspoudiug  with  the  dele- 
gates in  all  parts  of  the  country;  the  effort  was  rewarded  with 
success:  243  persons,  delegates  to  the  World's  Sunday-School 
Convention,  engaged  their  passage  on  this  now  celebrated 
steamer.  These  were  not  all  the  delegates  from  America  to  the 
Convention,  for  a  large  party  from  Canada,  numbering  nearly 
fifty,  took  passage  by  the  Allan  line  ;  and  there  was  also  a  con- 
siderable number  who  went  on  the  steamship  Nebraska,  of  the 
State  line,  while  others  sailed  at  various  dates  on  various  steam- 
ers, all  to  meet  in  London  on  the  first  of  Jul}',  D.  V. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  an  account  of  other  voyages  or  to  re- 
late the  experiences  of  those  who  went  bj-^  various  ships  other 
than  the  Bothnia,  but  of  that  voj'age  it  is  thought  best  to  insert 
a  brief  account. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  STEAMSHIP 
BOTHNIA. 

In  response  to  the  circulars  and  almost  countless  letters  written 
by  Mr.  W.  N.  Hartshorn  and  the  various  committees  and  indi- 
viduals, a  party  of  nearly  two  hundred  of  the  delegates  gathered 
in  the  Metropolitan  Hotel,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  Tues- 
day evening,  June  16,  at  8  o'clock.  It  was  an  occasion  of  great 
interest ;  many  of  the  workers  were  acquainted  with  each  other, 
having  met  in  conventions  in  different  parts  of  the  land,  and 
some  known  to  others  only  by  name  here  met  for  the  first  time, 
but  it  was  an  enthusiastic  Sunday-school  gathering. 

Through  the  kindness  of  J.  S.  Paine,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  a  large 
and  handsome  silk  tlag  had  been  prepared  as  a  souvenir  of  the 
occasion,  and  at  an  informal  meeting  held  at  the  parlors  of  the 
hotel,  Mr.  W.  N.  Hartshorn  presented  the  Hag  to  Mr.  B.  F.  Ja- 
cobs ;  Mr.  Jacobs  replied  briefly  and  in  a  few  words  outlined 
the  plan  suggested  for  the  voyage  and  the  convention.  An 
earnest  prayer  for  God's  blessing  was  offered  by  Dr.  Warren 
Randolph,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the  meeting  closed.  The  next 
morning  the  delegates  accompanied  by  a  large  number  of 
friends  and  Sunday-school  workers  of  New  York,  Brooklyn  and 
adjacent  cities,  gathered  on  the  wharf  and  on  the  decks  of  the 
steamer,  and  after  a  few  words  of  salutation  and  good-bys. 
promptly  on  time  the  steamer  left  her  dock,  and  amid  the  cheers 
of  the  friends  on  the  dock,  "  The  first  pilgrimage  of  Sunday- 
school  workers  across  the  ocean  "  was  begun. 

A  well-known  poet.  Rev.  W.  C.  Richards,  D.  D.,  addressed 
the  following  to  one  member  of  the  party,  and  it  was  re-arrauged 
for  all. 


HON    VOYAGE. 


If  Icrvciii  wistu'f  were  but  favoring  uirn 

(ir  nmw  Weird  churiii  might  lurk  iu  our  farewells, 
That  perils  of  the  treacherouti  deep  dispels  ; 

Oh.  frieuds  your  voyage  sped  by  our  fond  prayers, 

Should  be  so  fleet,  so  free  from  all  sea  cares, 
(As  ouly  some  rare  night  dream  [jarallels 
Or  wild  tale  of  Arabian  lietioii  tells:) 

The  English  sky  might  greet  you  unawares, 

You  are  going  from  us  to  yoiir  home  work,  yet 

(The  home  work,  dearest  to  your  hearts  at  least). 

Where  mighty  London  spreads  a  tempting  feast 
Of  Sunday-schools  in  world-wide  congress  met; 

Well  have  you  won  onr  blessings  on  your  way  1 

Yet  your  return  shall  mark  the  liap|)ier  day. 

A  dek'gate  writing  to  oue  of  the  leading  i)iipers,  niiys  :  "  Tbey 
tliiit  go  down  to  the  sen  in  ships,  and  do  busine.ss  iu  great  waters, 
the.se  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  His  wonders  in  tlie  deep." 
From  Northern  Canada,  and  from  Florida,  from  New  Brunswick 
and  from  California,  from  almost  every  State,  Territory  and  pro- 
vince of  the  North  American  Continent,  Sunday-school  delegates 
gathered  at  the  Cuiiard  wharf.  New  York,  and  tramped  up  tlie 
gaugplauk  of  the  good  ship  "  Bothnia  "  on  Wednesday  the  19th  of 
hist  mouth,  off  for  a  holiday.  And  where  could  harder  workers 
be  found  tlian  this  .same  band  of  Sabbath-school  workers,  or  men 
and  women  who  better  deserved  a  holiday?  Off  to  the  world's 
metropolis  to  attend  the  great  International  Sunday-school  Con- 
vention. Off  to  rest  from  ordinary  tasks  for  awhile,  and  to  fill 
themselves  with  a  grater  enthu.siasm  for  their  work  than  ever, 
by  mingling  in  holy  fellowshii)  with  .some  of  the  noblest  spirits 
in  the  great  JNIaster's  service.  Many  delegates  had  already  gone 
iu  other  ships.  Some  w-ere  to  follow  in  a  swifter  steamer,  but  the 
majority  chose  to  travel  with  their  standard  bearer,  Jacobs,  in  the 
"Bothnia." 


"  OUR    VOYAGE." 


How  bright,  how  glad  to  me  the  day 
When  out  upon  my  ocean  way 

standing  on  deck  of  Bothnia  grand, 
I  gazed  on  fast  receding  laud. 

What  favored  band  that  steamer  bore  ': 
Tow'rd  far  off  Britain's  Island  shore; 

And  what  a  goodly  company 
Together  sailed,  the  deep  blue  sea. 


IIo^^'  swiftly  pass  the  hours  aloug. 
In  converse  sweet  or  sacred  song. 

And  morn  and  uoou,  and  eve  and  night 

Made  up  one  round  of  pure  delight. 

I  think  of  this  like  some  sweet  dream. 
Or  rippling  sound  of  fairy  stream. 

And  wonder  now  when  all  is  past 

How  happened  my  lot  to  be  so  cast. 

It  matters  little  now  to  me 

That  I  was  sick,  so  sick  at  sea; 

For  friends  were  kind  and  ever  near 
M'ith  hands  to  help  and  words  to  cheer. 

And  all  the  qualms  that  Neptune  sent, 

Came  all  I  know,  with  good  intent, 
And  all  but  made  me  relish  more. 
The  rare  good  things  I  found  on  shore. 

That  sea,  the  mighty  wonderous  sea, 
What  charms  it  had  and  has  for  me  I 

With  its  long  roll  from  shore  to  shore, 

And  waves  on  waves,  forevermore. 

I  gazed  and  wearied  not  at  view 
Of  ocean  wide,  and  deep  and  blue  ; 

And  always  in  those  depths  could  see 

God's  picture  of  immensity. 

Blest  memories  of  sea  and  land, 

Of  voyagers,  a  happy  band  : 

Of  scenes  and  sights,  all  strange  and  new, 
Of  friendships  formed,  both  good  and  true. 

Long  I   long  !   may  this  glad  picture  stay. 

To  grow  more  bright,  from  day  to  day; 
And  may  we  when  life's  voyage  ends. 
In  heaven  greet  all  our  Bothnia  friends. 

The  voyapje  was  unique  aud  interesting,  and  it  is  impossible  to 
give  anything  like  a  full  and  accurate  account  of  all  that  trans- 
pired on  the  sliip.  The  passage  was  a  good  one, the  weather  being 
fine,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  little  roughness,  for  the  first  and 
second  days  the  ocean  was  calm  and  smooth.  Soon  after  pass- 
ing Sandy  Hook  the  delegates  were  called  to  order  by  Mr.  B.  F. 
Jacobs,  and  conimittees  were  appointed  to  prepare  the  pro- 
gramme for  the  voyage  and  as  far  as  possible  to  prepare  for  the 
convention  in  London.  The  usual  amount  of  sea  sickness  pre- 
vented much  being  done  for  the  first  and  second  days,  but  after- 
wards the  programme  outlined  for  the  voyage  was  well  sustained 
and  carried  out. 

Another  delegate  writes  an  introduction  as  follows  : 

A   GOSPEL   SHIP. 

"  If  ever  a  vessel  deserved  this  title  it  is  the  Bothnia  with  its 


load  of  pastors,  Suuday-scliool  suporintencients  and  teachers, 
evaugelists,  editors, C'hristiau  men  and  women.  Was  there  ever 
such  a  company  on  such  a  mission  !  It  was  a  Sunday-school 
institute,  gospel  service,  Bible  reading,  sermon,  song,  social  con- 
verse and  Christian  work  all  in  one,  and  3,000  miles  long  !  Nor  is 
the  audience  limited  to  the  ship.  This  ocean  service  is  on  the 
pulpit  of  the  great  sea  and  for  the  people  of  the  whole  world. 
And  besides  the  present  mediums  for  giving  it  circulation,  a 
pamphlet,  gathering  up  all  the  bright  and  helpful  things,  is  to 
be  prepared  and  sent  broadcast.  Subscriptions  were  given  im- 
mediately for  about  1,500.  Arrangements  will  be  made  for  any  to 
get  them  who  wish.  It  will  be  a  most  acceptable  souvenir  of 
the  trip  and  company. 

"To  give  account  of  the  ship  services  so  interesting,  unique, 
delightful  and  protitable,  would  be  impossible  in  the  limits  of 
this  letter ;  nor  is  it  necessary,  in  view  of  the  publication  above 
referred  to.  But  imagine  what  they  would  be  with  such  workers 
as  Mr.  Jacobs,  Drs.  Peloubet,  Warren  Randolph,  Dixon,  Wharton 
and  a  score  of  other  well-known  names,  and  doing  their  work 
under  the  inspiration  of  a  large  and  select  audience  and  amid 
conditions  most  favorable.  Special  mention  may  be  made  of  a 
■  Bible  reading,  on  the  Resurrection,  by  B.  F.  Jacobs,  and  another 
even  more  searching  and  powerful  on  the  Holy  Spirit ;  of  the 
sermons  by  Drs.  Wharton  and  Di.xon,  of  Baltimore,  Revs.  F.  H. 
Marling  of  Montreal,  W.  H.  Brooks  of  Washington,  P.  H. 
Swift  of  Illinois,  and  J.  J.  Smallwood  of  Massachusetts  ;  of 
the  addresses  of  Misses  Ordway  and  Harlow,  of  Dr.  Peloubet 
and  Marion  Lawrence,  specially  bearing  on  Sunday-school  work. 
A  generous  supply  of  Peloubct's  Select  Songs  was  furnished  by 
Biglow  &  Main  and  the  Estey  Organ  (.'ompany,  contributed  one 
of  their  f.nraous  reed  organs.  The  song  books  were  presented 
to  the  delegates  as  souvenirs  of  the  trip,  and  the  organ  was  given 
to  Captain  J.  B.  Watt,  of  the  Bothnia.  An  analysis  of  the  242 
delegates  shows  77  to  be  Baptists,  58  Methodi-sts,  47  Congrega- 
tionalists,  45  Presbyterians  and  the  rest  scattering.  It  shows 
also  54  ministers,  over  40  Sunday-school  superintendents.  Twen- 
ty-six states  were  represented.  Some  one  made  the  discovery, 
also,  that  they  were  on  board  a  Fox,  a  Beaver,  a  Quayle,  a  Chick 
and  a  Coon  ;  but  suggestive  as  the  names  may  be,  no  unpleasant- 
ness resulted  from  the  association." 

A  thinly  attended  meeting  was  held  Thursday  evening,  but 
those  who  were  absent  had  an  excuse.  More  appeared  on  Friday 
morning,  when  Rev.  R.  W.  Hughes,  of  Grinell,  Iowa,  con- 
ducted a  Bible  reading,  and  Miss  L.  M.  Ordway,  of  Massachu- 
setts, spoke  on  Primary  Teaching  in  the  Sunday-school.     At  3 


p.  M.  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  tlie  Inteiniitioual 
Convention  was  held,  which  embraces  the  United  States  and 
Territories  of  the  British  Provinces,  and  a  quorum  was  found 
to  be  present  for  doing  business.  The  meeting  was  public  and 
there  was  the  fullest  freedom  for  expressing  opinion,  and  all 
conclusions  were  reached  with  unanimity  and  harmony.  After 
talking  over  matters  and  arranging  them  systematically  the  meet- 
ing dissolved. 

Sat.urday  morning  opened  beautif  ullj',  and  at  ten  o'clock  Mr. 

B.  F.  Jabobs  conducted  a  teachers'  meeting  on  the  Sunday- 
school  lesson  for  the  next,  day,  the  topic  being  the  "  Resurrec- 
tion." The  lesson  was  explained  thoroughly  and  uubsterfully, 
and  was  intensely  interesting  ;.  it  proved  to  be  a  fountain  run- 
ning over  with  spiritual  instruction  all  the  voyage  through. 
During  Saturday  afternoon  a  Primary  Teachers'  Symposium  was 
held,  several  workers  giving  their  practices  and  experiences. 
These  symposiums  were  repeated  with  great  profit,  and  the  meet- 
ings were  well  attended  and  exceedingly  interesting  and  instruc- 
tive. 

On  Sunday  the  Episcopal  service  was  read  in  the  saloon  by 
Dr.  Warren  Randolph,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  F.  H.  Marling,  of  Montreal,  on  the  text,  Acts 
xxvii:23,  taking  the  last  clause, "  Whose  I  am, and  whom  I  serve." 
The  sermon  was  intensely  interesting  and  many  .said  it  was  the 
best  thej^had  ever  heard  ;  it  appealed  to  each  and  ever}'  person 
present,  and  will  not  be  soon  forgotten. 

In  the  afternoon  a  Sunday-school  was  held  under  the  leader- 
.ship  of  Mr.  Marion  Lawrence,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  with  A.  E. 
Hough,  of  Michigan,  O.  R.  Brouse  and  C.  T.  Northrop,  of  Illi- 
nois, Assistant  Superintendents  ;  J.  F.  Wight,  of  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, E.  P.  Porter,  of  New  York  and  Lewis  Collins,  of  Ken- 
tucky, as  Secretaries.  There  Avere  in  the  main  school  fourteen 
officers,  ten  teachers  and  219  scholars  and  in  the  primary  school 
two  teachers  and  eight  scholars,  and  in  the  stearage  two  teachers 
and  tweutj'-eight  scholars,  making  a  total  of  383.  A  collection 
was  taken  up  amounting  to  f  25.54  to  be  used  in  the  international 
work.  The  classes  were  taught  by  Dr.  Peloubet,  Secretary 
Clark,  of  New  Jersey,  the  Rev.  C.  H.  St.  John  of  Kansas,  Rev. 

C.  N.  Wilder  of  Illinois,  Rev.  A.  C.  Dixon  of  Maryland,  Prof. 
Bingham  of  New  Hampshire,  Prof.  Blair  of  North  Carolina, 
Boston  W.  Smith  of  Minnesota,  Rev.  Dr.  Swift  of  Illinois, 
Rev.  J.  M.  Dutton  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Haines,  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  altogether  it  was  an  impo.sing  display  of  teaching  talent. 
The  primary  classes  were  taught  by  Miss  Harlow  and  Miss  Ord- 
way.    They  were  fortunate  who  attended  Miss  HarloAv's  primary 


class  oil  the  loruMid  dcik,  willi  t  lie  assistance  of  Mr.  E.  ra3soii 
PorlLT,  our  genial  iStatisticai  Secretary.  She  carried  a  group  of 
children  through  the  les.son  pictures  of  the  (juarter,  eliciting 
from  their  own  lips  the  lesson  that  a  less  thoughtful  teacher 
would  have  uttered  herself,  and  winning  the  deep  admiration, 
not  only  of  the  crowd  of  sailors  and  stearage  pa.ssengers  that 
surrounded  the  children,  but  the  skilled  workers  who  stood  by 
to  listen  and  learn.  One  of  the  delegates  said  in  relation  to  Miss 
Harlow's  class,  "  I  have  seen  teachers  who  could  cover  a  long 
le.s.son  rapidly  ;  I  have  .seen  others  wlio  could  hold  a  child's  at- 
tention perfectly,  and  stimulate  his  mind  to  thoughtful  utter- 
ance, but  Mi.ss  Harlow  did  both  these  things  at  once,  a  fact  to 
me  \iuprecedentcd."  I  learned  there  this  lesson,  "  If  you  want  a 
child  to  follow  j-ou,  lead  him." 

A  Vesper  service  was  held  at  sunset,  and  in  the  evening  the 
liev.  Mr.  Wharton,  of  Baltimore,  preached  from  Ephes.  iii:8, 
closing  the  day  of  rich  things  with  inspiring  words  of  hope  and 
cheer. 

A  delegate  writes  concerning  this,  "A  Sabbath  in  Mid  Ocean." 
"The  Sabbath  on  the  ocean  was  delightful  beyond  all  anticipa- 
tion. Every  day  was  a  Sabbath  with  us,  but  this  was  a  high 
day,  and  day  of  da3^s.  A  smooth  sea,  delightful  temperature 
and  charming  weather  ushered  in  the  holy  morn.  A  heavenly 
calm  was  upon  ever}"-  one.  Badges  of  gold  and  blue  were 
fluttering  from  the  breast  of  every  delegate.  P.salm  lxv:4,5  was 
upon  many  lips,  '  We  shall  be  sati.stied  with  the  goodness  of  thy 
house,  even  of  thy  holy  temple.  .  .  .  O,  God  of 
our  salvation,  who  art  the  contidenee  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
and  of  tho.se  that  are  afar  off  ujiou  the  sea.'  At  the  morning 
service  in  the  saloon.  Dr.  Warren  Kandolpli  read  most  beautifully 
and  impressively  the  Episcopal  service,  all  present  joining  with 
reverence  in  the  liturgy.  No  Episcopalian  clergyman  ever  read 
the  service  with  greater  appreciation  of  its  beauty  and  sublimity. 
A  realization  of  the  distance  we  had  already  traveled  came  over 
us  with  a  sudden  thrill,  as  there  fell  from  Dr.  Randolph's  lips 
the  sentences,  '  We  beseech  thee  with  thy  favor  to  behold  our 
most  Gracious  Lad}%  Queen  Victoria,  and  His  Excellency  the 
President  of  the  United  States.'  Dr.  Marling,  of  Montreal,  then 
preached  a  tender  and  impressive  sermon  on  the  text,  '  Whose 
I  am,  and  whom  I  serve.'  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a 
rousing  .Salvation  Army  meeting  was  held  in  the  fore  part  of 
the  ship.  A  score  perhaps  of  ministers  were  in  the  crowd,  and 
many,  if  not  all,  shed  tears  of  sympathy,  as  the  soldiers  told  of 
their  toils  and  triumphs  in  the  service  of  King  Jesus.  Sab- 
bath-school Avas  held  at  three  o'clock.     The  after  deck  was  cov- 


10 

ered  with  earnest  studeutsof  the  world.  Mr.  Marion  Lawrence, 
of  Toledo,  was  Superintendent.  It  wa.s  a  surpassing!}'  beautiful 
sight  when  the  Superintendent  called  for  a  show  of  Bibles,  to 
see  the  universal  responses,  the  Book  of  Life  being  upraised  all 
over  the  ship ;  and  again  when  the  Superintendent  asked  the 
question  :  '  How  many  of  you  attended  preaching  service  to- 
day?'to  see  every  hand  upraised.  These  are  questions  which 
perhaps  many  another  Superintendent  will  hereafter  ask  as  a 
part  of  the  opening  exercises,  questions  of  vast  benefit  and  great 
educational  value  also.  In  a  word,  the  whole  Sabbath-school 
service  was  delightfully  unique,  and  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
those  who  participated  therein,  no,  not  even  in  that  day  when 
'there  shall  be  no  more  sea.'  The  enrollment  at  this  Atlantic 
Sabbath-school  was,  teachers  and  ofticers  26,  scholars  257,  total 
283.  The  collection  was  about  |25.  At  the  Sunday  evening 
service.  Rev.  Mr.  Wharton,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  preached  a  pow- 
erful discourse  —  text,  'The  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.' 
Thus  passed  one  of  the  sweetest  Sabbaths  of  life,  a  Sabbath  that 
will  be  remembered  with  joy  when  we  shall  have  reached  the 
land  '  where  congregations  ne'er  break  up,  and  Sabbaths  have 
no  end.'  " 

While  at  sea  the  following  verses  on  "Trusting  Jesus  "  were 
were  written  by  six  (6)  persons,  each  verse  being  composed  with- 
out its  author  reading  any  of  the  others  : 

Oh  triisit  thyself  to  Jesus 
Wlieu  on  the  deep  blue  sea. 

For  300U  its  waves  so  peaceful 
Will  roll  tuniultuousl}'. 

When  iu  those  hours  so  gloomy 
When  heart  and  strength  do  fail. 

Oh  let  thy  hopes  be  anchored 
In  Christ,  within  the  vail. 

Oh  trust  thyself  to  Jesus 
When  waves  are  rolling  high, 

When  tempest  tossed  and  weary, 
Thy  heart  can  only  sigh. 

Lean  hard  upon  the  promise. 
Its  truth  thy  certain  stay, 

For  Jeeus  is  the  pilot 
Along  life's  stormy  way. 

Oh  trust  thyself  to  Jesus, 
His  friendship  will  endure; 

His  hand  is  outstretched  to  thee, 
And  will  hold  thee  firm  and  sure. 

Oh  trust  Him  only,  ever. 
And  thou  shalt  surely  find 

That  He  who  heals  the  leper 
Will  also  lead  the  blind. 


11 


oil  truHt  thy.iclf  to  Jesnn 
When  oil  the  rolliiif,'  deep, 

Hit^  hand  the  helm  ih  holdiug, 
He  watcher  while  we  pleep: 

Ilin  care  is  ever  o'er  iic. 
He'll  hriiifj  lis  uufe  to  laud; 

No  harm  can  crt'  hefall  iis 
While  guided  by  His  haud. 

Oh  trust  thyself  to  Jesus 
When  on  the  restless  deep: 

He  auswereth  prayer  and  giveth 
His  own  beloved  sleep. 

He  takes  away  the  weakness 
Aud  calms  thy  troubled  soul. 

And  guides  thee  by  his  counsel 
Though  storms  and  tempests  roll. 

Oh  trust  thyself  to  Jesus, 
Ou  sea  as  well  as  laud. 

For  all  the  miglity  ocean 
Obeys  His  great  commaud. 

Though  dani;er  may  confound  thee. 
And  fears  thy  spirit  fill, 

Though  winds  and  wave  surround  thee 
He  sjieaks,  and  all  is  still. 


The  meetings  which  '?\'^ere  held  on  the  bow  of  the  steamer  were 
very  iuteresting  ;  they  were  for  the  benefit  of  the  ship's  crew, 
and  were  conducted  by  Col,  Dowdle,  of  the  Salvation  Army, 
assi.sted  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Hughes,  of  Iowa,  and  other  prominent 
Sunday-school  workers,  both  gentlemen  and  ladies.  These  meet- 
ings were  held  every  day  at  6.30  p.m..  and  all  seeni  deeplj'  in- 
terested in  them  ;  many  of  the  crew  were  heard  to  say  that  tbey 
never  had  attended  such  interesting  meetings,  and  many  were 
converted.  Col.  Dowdle  was  deeply  interested  in  these  meetings, 
and  said  that  it  was  like  heaven  on  the  Bothnia  when  taken  into 
comparison  with  some  other  ships  in  which  he  had  crossed  tlie 
ocean  before. 

Monday  forenoon.  Dr.  F.  N.  Peloubet  spoke  upon  "The  Best 
Method  of  Studying  the  Sunday-School  Lesson,"  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  Miss  A.  S.  Harlow  on  "  Work  for  the  Scholar  Outside 
the  Sunday-School."  The  .sermon  in  the  evening  was  by  a  col- 
ored brother — Rev.  Walter  Brooks,  of  W^ashingtou,  D.  C, — from 
Matt.  vi:10,  Thy  kingdtmi  come." 

Tuesday  forenoon  was  occupied  by  an  address  of  great  interest 
to  Sunday -scliool  workers,  from  Mr.  Marion  Lawrence,  who  is  a 
paid  superintendent  and  devotes  all  his  time  to  the  work  of  his 
Sunday-school  in  Toledo.     In  the  evening  service  a  male  quartet 


12 

furnished  music,  and  tlie  Rev.  J.  J.  Smallwood,  of  Massachusetts, 
gave  a  temperance  lecture. 

Wednesday  was  a  day  of  celebration  of  victory  over  Neptune, 
At  10  A.M.  one  week  from  the  hour  of  starting  from  New  York, 
a  procession  of  the  victorious  was  formed,  headed  by  extempo- 
rised band,  directed  by  "Uncle  Boston."  With  songs  and  cheers 
the  triumphant  host,  not  ashamed  of  their  wounds  and  bruises, 
marched  around  the  ship  and  sang  of  their  deliverance  and 
showed  their  trophies.  Coming  at  length  to  a  halt,  many  patri- 
otic speeches,  with  songs  thrown  in,  and  tender  touches  of  con- 
secrated life,  closed  a  service  that  was  w^ell  calculated  to  drive 
away  the  "blues."  "America,"  and  "God  save  the  Queen," 
both  came  from  loj-al  hearts  as  they  were  sung  by  those  of  Ameri- 
can and  of  English  birth.  The  evening  was  devoted  to  a  concei't 
by  chosen  persons  on  board,  when  a  varied  programme  was  well 
received  by  the  audience,  and  resulted  in  a  contribution  of  f  110 
for  the  Liverpool  Orphanage,  for  Seamen's  Children. 

Thursday  a  conference  was  held  on  Teachers'  Meetings,  when 
a  niimber  of  delegates  gave  their  method  of  conducting  them. 
Rev.  P.  H.  Swift,  of  Rockford,  111.,  preached  in  the  evening  on 
John  xiv:2,  3  :  "I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you." 

The  Friday  morning  service  of  praise  was  followed  by  a  ser- 
mon from  Prof.  W.  A.  Quayle,  of  Baldwin,  Kansas,  on  "Our 
Father,"  (Matt.  vi:9).  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Jacobs  gave  his  re- 
markable Bible  reading  on  the  Holy  Spirit.  At  the  opening  of  the 
evening  service,  which  was  held  in  the  saloon,  Mr.  Jacobs  pre- 
sented theEstey  organ  on  behalf  of  the  delegates,  to  Commander 
J.  B.  Watt,  Avho  responded  in  fitting  terms.  Dr.  Dixon, of  Balti- 
more, then  spoke  on  the  text,  "How  excellent  is  Thy  loving 
kindness."     (Psalm  xxxvi:7.) 

Early  Saturday  morning  we  reached  Queeustown,  when  we 
have  an  opportunity  to  mail  our  first  letters  home — an  opportu- 
nity which  all  eagerly  improve.  Here,  too,  some  of  our  company 
leave  to  go  by  rail  and  steamer.  Among  them  is  B.  F.  Jacobs, 
hastening  ahead  to  perfect  arrangements  for  the  belated  delega- 
tion. A  tender  song  service  is  held  as  they  steam  away  from  us. 
Another  day  will  bring  us  to  Liverpool.  This  is  spent  largely 
in  preparing  to  disembark.  We  almost  regret  that  the  end  is 
near,  and  yet  we  rejoice  at  the  sight  of  land  which  greets  us  the 
most  of  the  day.  An  exultant  Welshman  breaks  forth  into  song 
as  he  beholds  the  rugged  hills  of  his  native  land: 

"My  soul  delights  to  wauder 

On  wings  of  thought  divine, 
To  view  with  love  and  wonder 

Those  native  hill.'?  of  mine. 


13 

'•  Mountaiuf  of  iiiicii'iit  uloi'V, 

Adorned  with  lovely  vak-c. 
Creation  in  its  beauty. 

My  home,  my  uative  Wales." 

A  quiet  and  (Iclijihlful  sunset  service  closed  the  meetings  of 
this  nuMuombie  voyage.  And  now.  good-by  Bothnia,  rolling 
Bothnia.  We  gratefully  testify  to  the  safe  and  plea.saut  home  the 
ship  has  furnished  us,  and  see  in  this  an  answer  to  prayer  ;  for 
we  are  informed  that  the  wife  of  the  founder  of  this  C'unard  line 
years  ago  spent  the  day  in  prayer  that  the  line  might  be  pros- 
pered and  its  pa.ssengers  protected.  It  is  said  that  no  life  has 
ever  been  lo.st  from  any  of  its  vessels. 

ENGLISH    ItECErTlON. 


This  is  so  hearty  and  forward  that  it  greet.s  u.s  at  Queeustowu 
by  telegram  and  letter,  a  whole  day  before  we  .set  toot  on  land. 
The  telegram  is  from  Mr.  Downie,  of  Liverpool,  Chairman  of 
the  Sunday-school  Committee,  welcoming  us  to  Sunday  rest  and 
worship  in  Liverpool.  The  letter  is  from  C.  H.  Spurgeou,  ad- 
dressed to  Rev.  P.  J.  Ward,  Columbus,  O..  a  former  student  of 
Spurgeou. 
A  general  meeting  of  the  E.vecutive  Committee  and  delegates  was 
held  at  ten  o'clock,  Brother  E.  S.  Ormsby,  of  Emmitsburg.  Iowa, 
presided,  Rev.  C.  N.  Wilder  of  Champaign,  Illinois,  acted  a.s 
secretary.  The  following  letter  from  George  Downie,  Honorable 
Secretary  of  the  Liverpool  Sunday-School  Union,  was  read.  The 
letter  was  addressed  to  B.  F.  Jacobs.  Chairman  of  the  Interna- 
tional E.\ecutive  Committee. 

LivEKPooL,  26th  June,  1889. 

Dear  Sih: 

Allow  me  on  behalf  of  the  Executive  of  this  Union  to 
ofifer  the  delegates  on  the  Bothnia,  to  the  World's  Sunday-school 
Convention,  a  very  cordial  and  sincere  welcome.  We  rejoice  at 
the  opportunity  afforded  of  making  the  reciprocity  of  feeling 
which  exists  in  regard  to  this  great  movement,  and  we  feel  sure 
that  your  visit  will  be  eminently  fruitful  in  awakening  zeal  and 
reviving  earnestness  among  tho.se  on  this  side  of  the  channel, 
as  well  as  in  imparting  new  methods  and  ideas  tending  to  in- 
crea.se  efficiency.  We  much  regret  that  your  arrangements  do 
not  permit  you  to  spend  an  evening  here  proir  to  your  dei)arture 
for  London,  and  thus  give  us  the  pleasure  of  inviting  our  local 
Sunday-school  workers  to  meet  you,  but  subject  to  the  permis- 
sion of  the  Cunard  Company,  a  small  deputation  of  our  members 


14 

will  go  on  board  the  tender  of  the  steamer  to  carry  to  you  our 
greetings  in  person.  To  facilitate  this  object,  kindly  cause  a  tele- 
gram to  be  sent  to  me  from  Queenstowu  (addressed  to  Bank  of 
Liverpool,  Castle  street,  Liverpool),  announcing  the  probable 
time  of  your  arrival  here,  and  also  wire  to  the  London  Sunday- 
School  Union,  56  Old  Bailey,  London,  E.  C,  saying  how  many 
of  the  delegates  are  looking  for  hospitality.  If  you  think  a  meet- 
ing in  Liverpool  can  be  arranged  on  your  return  from  Loudon,  I 
should  be  glad  to  have  a  line  from  you.  We  should  very  much 
like  to  have  an  oral  account  of  what  is'going  on  in  the  Sunday- 
school  world  in  America.     With   fraternal   regards,  believe  me 

Very  sincerely  yours, 
(Signed)  Geokge  Downie. 

A  committee  consisting  of  the  following  gentlemen  was  ap- 
pointed to  acknowledge  the  letter  and  to  make  such  arrangements 
as  may  be  desirable  for  meeting  the  members  of  the  Liverpool 
Sunday-School  Union  and  other  friends  of  the  cause  in  their 
city,  viz.:  E.  S.  Ormsby,  Esq.,  Rev.  Dr.  Randolph,  J.W.  Red- 
den, M.  D.,  Rev.  R.  W.  Hughes  and  Mr.  J.  D.  Arms. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  C.  PL  Spurgeon,  London, 
addressed  to  Rev.  P.  J.  Ward,  D.  D.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  was 
read : 

Beulah  Hill,  June  21,  1889. 
"  Dear  Mr.  Ward  : 

I  alvva.ys  welcome  you,  but  your  errand  now  renders 
you  specially  welcome.  Svinday-school  work  is  the  hope  of  Lon- 
don, and  so  I  think  it  must  be  of  every  place.  To  see  our  Godly 
people  devoting  so  much  time  gratuitously  to  teaching  the  young 
is  a  noble  spectacle — the  glory  of  the  church  and  the  pleasure  of 
her  Lord.  May  you  all  have  a  good  time  at  the  Convention. 
My  inces.sant  engagements  will  not  allow  of  my  looking  in  upon 
the  happy  gatherings  ;  but  man\'  of  the  visitors  will  look  in  upon 
me  at  Tabernacle,  and  I  shall  rejoice  to  see  them.  The  arrange- 
ments promise  you  a  verj'  protitable  season,  and  English  teachers 
will,  1  hope,  learn  much  from  our  go-ahead  American  friends. 
You  have  out.stripped  us  in  this  matter  in  many  ways.  May  the 
Holy  Spirit  bless  Sunday-schools  in  all  lands  more  and  more. 

Yoiirs  ever  heartilj% 

C.  H.  Spurgeon." 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Mr.  Ward  for  securing  the  letter. 

The  courtesy  of  the  oflicials  of  the  ship  in  allowing  us  to  hold 

religious  services  as  often  as  we  pleased  added  greately  to  the 


15 

enjoyment  of  the  trip.  To  tliul  eoiutesy  we  were  iudebted  for 
baviui:  "  Sinulay  all  the  voyage."  Neither  on  hind  nor  sea  was 
there  ever  a  UKM-e  delijihtfnl  Cliristiau  union.  Of  denominational 
banners  we  had  many,  bvit  from  first  to  last  no  discourtesy  wa.s 
shown  to  eitlier  of  them  ;  we  were  all  uiiilcd  in  "  (lirisl  Cruci- 
fied," the  one  central  article  of  faith. 

Our  last  day  on  the  Bothnia  was  one  of  the  most  delightful 
of  the  whole  voyage  in  many  ways.  The  weather  was  all  that 
could  be  desired,  and  the  ocean  was  calm  and  tranquil  as  a  moun- 
tain lake  on  a  summer  day.  Wh'ile  we  had  been  specially  fa- 
vored witli  good  weather  during  tlie  whole  voyage,  it  seemed  as 
though  the  dear  Father  had  taken  special  pains  to  give  us  the 
most  delightful  day  for  the  last.  After  leaving  Queenslown  we 
sailed  for  several  hours  along  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

Her  green  fertile  tields  and  pleasant  homes  were  in  full  view. 
We  soon  entered  St.  George's  Channel,  and  in  a  few  hours  were 
sailing  along  the  coast  of  AVales.  Her  high  rugged  mountains, 
pleasant  valleys  and  happy  homes  were  all  in  full  view.  We 
gazed  upon  them  and  e.\claimed  as  we  gazed  "  what  pages  of  his- 
tory have  been  made  here."  As  the  sun  was  sinking  quietly  to 
i-est—aud  we  realized  that  this  was  the  last  evening  of  this  me- 
morable voyagt — what  more  appropriate  or  better  thing  could  we 
do  than  to  hold  a  farewell  praise  service  ;  and  so,  almost  instinct- 
ively, we  gathered  about  the  organ  on  the  deck  of  the  ship  and 
c(mimenced  the  last  praise  service  of  this  memorable  voyage. 
The  songs  and  prayers  were  hearty  and  prompt,  while  many, 
both  brethren  and  sisters,  e.\pressed  the  thanksgiving  of  their 
hearts  in  words  of  testimony. 

After  leaving  Queenstown  Saturday  uooii.  June  29th,  the  fol- 
lowing prayer  of  thanksgiving  was  ottered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Warren 
llandoljih  : 

"  O  God  our  Heavenly  Father,  we  give  thanks  to  Thee  for  all 
the  blcs.siugs  with  which  Thou  has  attended  us  in  this  our  way 
across  the  ^ea.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  .sweet  and  blessed  fellow- 
ship we  have  enjoyed.  We  thank  Thee  for  our  safety,  that  no 
storm  has  destroyed  us.  that  no  iceberg  has  struck  us. 

O  God,  let  ihy  blessing  still  attend  us.  Bring  us  in  safety  to 
our  destination.  Watch  over  us  and  guide  us  on  the  rail  as  Thou 
has  watched  and  guided  us  on  the  trackless  sea. 

Bless  us  in  the  great  Convention.  Let  us  liave  the  presence 
and  the  aid  of  that  Holy  Spirit  of  whose  presence  and  power  we 
heard  so  sweetly  yesterday.  Send  an  answer  to  the  prayer  just 
made  known  to  us  of  the  great  preacher  of  thy  trutli  in  London. 
Make  us  a  blessing  there. 


16 

Bless  the  whole  land  to  which  we  go,  and  bless  (he  world,  and 
we  will  give  the  praise  to  Thee:  the  Triune  God,  Father,  Son 
and  Holy  Ghost,  world  without  end.     Amen." 


AN  ACROSTIC  ODE  TO  THE  BOTHNIA. 

B-rave  Bothuia  of  the  sea.  B-ut  ou  auother  sea 

O-u  billow  bearing  me  O-ur  God  is  bearing  me 

T-he  ocean  o'er.  Till  life  is  o'er. 

H-ow  glad  I  tread  thy  decks  !    '  H-o\v  glad  I  trust  His  hand 

N-o  fear  of  lire  or  wrecks,  N--<>  fear  of  Satan's  band, 

l-Q  safety,  till  their  becks  l-u  safety,  till  I  land 

A-n  Orient  shore.  A-nd  tread  Heaven"s  shore. 


OFFICERS  OF  CONVENTION. 


Mr.  F.  F.  Eelset,  J.P.  (LoikIoh). 


'Ficc.-30icstKcut^ 


IkJUNT  A.  A'ON  Beunstorff  (Berlin). 
Rkv.  CiiAS.  II.  Kelly  (London). 
«u.   E.   B.  Harcofet,    M.P.P.  (To- 
ronto). 
VIh.  H.  p.  Chamberlin  (U.S.A.). 
I^OLONEL  Geiffin  (London). 


Mr.  Augustus  Palm  (Sweden). 
Me.    Johx     E.     Tresidueh      (Lon- 
don). 
Eev.  H.  W.  Brown  (Mexico). 
MoNS.  L.  Sautter  (Paris). 
Mr.  J.  M,  IIeybrock  (Aniisterdam). 


Mr.  Edwin  D.  King,  Q.C.  (Nova  Scotia). 


Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  (America). 


I   Mr.  Edward  Towers  (England). 


^|itf"tit)c  Committee 


Mr.  F.  F.  Belset,  J.P.  (London). 
Colonel  Griffin  „ 

Mk.  Frank  Clements  „ 

Mu.  J.  Tillett  „ 

Mr.  Charles  AVaters  „ 


Rev.  J.  H.  Babbitt  (Vermont). 
Me.  Lewis  Collins  (Kentucky). 
Colonel  E.  S.  Ormsby  (Iowa). 
Mr.  J.  B.  Wight  (District  Columbia). 
Mr.  Daniel  McLean  (Toronto). 


(Siuolmnit  ^ccictai]) : 

Ret.  S.  W.  Clark  (New  Jersey). 


31tvtcoi-tJiii(i  ^ffrftaiffs" 


Rbv.  J.  A.  Bright  (Kansas). 
Mu.  J.  A.  Bukhans  (Illinois). 


Mr.  Frank  Clements  (London). 
Mr,  Charles  Waters  (London). 


INTUOIJUCTORY   NOTE. 


fcJEVEN-AMJ-TWJiNi'i'  yciii's  liavc  passed  siiicc  llic  lirs(.  World's  Conven- 
tion was  lield  in  London  :  but  Unit  was  not  the  only  occasion  on  wliirli 
friends  from  distant  lands  have  united  with  British  Sunday-school 
Teachers  to  note  the  progi'css  of  reUgious  instruction  among  the  yoiui^'. 
In  1880  a  large  gathering  of  workers  met  to  celebrate  the  centenary  of 
the  estabhshment  of  Simday  schools  in  England  by  Eobert  Raikes. 

Since  that  time  important  Smiday  School  ConTentions  have  been 
held  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  by  which  a  desu'c  was  created 
for  an  extension  of  this  means  of  quickening  the  zeal  of  Sunday-school 
Teachers,  and  eicitmg  a  gi-eater  and  more  general  interest  among 
Clu-istians  in  tho  religious  education  of  the  yoimg.  It  was  felt  that 
the  time  had  arrived  when  a  Convention  upon  a  much  larger  scale 
might  be  attempted. 

A  strong  desii'e  to  tliis  effect  was  expressed  at  the  last  Internatiouid 
Convention  at  Chicago  ;  and  in  conformity  with  this  wish  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Simday  School  Union  took  the  initiative,  tlu-ougb  one  of 
its  honorary  secretaries,  Mr.  Edward  Towers,  and  after  much  corre- 
spondence with  fi-iends  at  home  and  abroad,  decided  to  hold  a  "World  s 
Sunday  School  Convention  in  London,  in  the  last  week  in  June,  ISS'J, 
or  the  first  week  m  Jidy. 

The  readiness  with  which  the  Eev.  Charles  H.  Kelly  on  behalf  of  Ihe 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Sunday  School  Union  in  England,  and  Mr.  B.  E. 
Jacobs,  of  Chicago,  on  behalf  of  the  Intel-national  Committee  of  America 
and  Canada,  entered  into  the  matter,  call  for  the  thankful  recognition 
of  the  Sunday  School  Union  Committee.  To  the  practical  adhesion  of 
these  fi'iends  to  the  movement,  its  success  is  greatly  due. 

The  wide  interest  felt  in  this  Convention  will  be  seen  by  a  refererice 
to  the  List  of  Delegates  in  the  Appendix  to  tliis  work ;  and  is  still 
further  shown  in  the  Hecord  of  Work  done  at  each  session  held. 

A  careful  study  of  the  contents  of  this  volimie  cannot  be  without 
fruit  in  the  improvement  of  methods  and  the  extension  of  the  Sunday- 
school  system  tlu-oughout  the  world. 


THE   PROaRAMME* 

FREPABED   FOR   THE 

WORLJi'S    SUNDAY    SCHOOL    CONVENTION 


Monday  Eveking,  July  1st. 

Receptiou  of  Delegates  at  Mansion  House  by  tlie  Right  Hon.  The 
LoED  Mayor  .        ' pp-  l-l'i 

OPENING  PROCEEDINGS. 
First  Day,  First  Session,  Tuesday  Moeking,  July  2nd. 

9-30  A.M.  Praise  and  Prayer— 10  a.m.  Roll-call  of  Delegates — Appoint- 
ment  of  Committee  and  Chaii-men  of  Convention — Addresses  of 
Welcome :  Lord  Kinnaii-d ;  Mr.  F.  F.  Belsey.  Responses  :  for 
America,  Rev.  Theodore  L.  Cnyler,  D.D.  (Brooklyn)  ;  for  Colo- 
nies, Mr.  E.  D.  King,  Q.C.  (Nova  Scotia)  ;  for  Continent,  Count 
A.  von  Bernstorff  and  Mons.  Sautter    .  .  ,         pp.  15-30 

THE  WORK   REPORTED. 
First  Day,  Second  Session,  Tuesday  Afternoon,  July  2nd. 

2'30  P.M.  Song  Sei-vice  and  Prayer — Election  of  Officers — Addi-css  by 
President,  Mr.  F.  F.  Belsey,  J.P.  —  Organized  Sunday  School 
Work  :  in  Great  Britain,  Mr.  F.  J.  Hartley  ;  on  the  Continent  of 
Em-ope,  Mr.  Edwards,  London  ;  Pastor  Bachman,  Orebro ;  Mr. 
J.  M.  Heybrock,  Amsterdam ;  Professor  J.  G.  Fetzer,  Hambm-g 

pp.  31-70 

First  Day,  Third  Session,  Tuesday  Evening,  July  2nd. 

6-30  P.M.  Song  Sei-vice  and  Prayer— Organized  Sunday  School  Work  : 
in  Canada,  Rev.  W.  H.  Witiu-oTN-,  D.D. ;  in  United  States,  Mr.  E. 
Payson  Porter ;  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs — Among  Coloured  People,  Rev. 
G.  W.  Moore pp.  71-93 


*  The  Programme  as  prepared  was  not  in  every  case  strictly  adhered 
to  ;  the  variations,  however,  were  very  few,  and  only  decided  upon  by  the 
executive  committee, 


1  roijramnv:.  vii 

Second  Day,  Fourth  Session,  Wednesday  Mornin«,  July  3ri). 

9"30  A.ir.  PiMise  and  Prayer — Organized  Sunday  Scliool  Work :  in 
India,  Rev.  J.  J.  Pool ;  in  China,  Jlrs.  Stott ;  in  Mexico,  Rev.  H. 
"W.  Brown pp.  9-1-113 

THE  WORK  EXAMINED. 
Second  Day,  Fifth  Session,  AVednesday  Afternoon,  July  3rd. 

2-30  P.M.  Song  Service  and  Prayer — The  International  Lesson  Plan — 
The  Lesson  C'oninaittce  :  Rev.  Warren  Rai;dolph,  D.D.,  U.S.A. — 
The  Selection  of  Lessons  :  Rev.  J.  Monro  Gibson,  D.D. — Pub 
lished  Lesson  Helps  :  Mr.  Benjamin  Clarke,  London  ;  Rev.  F.  N. 
Peloubet,  D.D.,  U.S.A. — Daily  Bible  Reading  Organizations  :  Mr. 
C.  Watei-3,  London     ......     pp.  11-1-1 1<J 

Second  Day,  Sixth  Session,  Wednesday  Evening,  July  3rd. 

6"30  P.M.  Song  Sei-vice  and  Prayer — The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  Scliool 
—Faithful  Bible  Study  Essential  to  Spiritual  Life  :  Rev.  R.  Glover, 
Bristol— The  Best  Methods  of  Bible  Study  :  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.D., 
U.S.A. ;  Rev.  Walter  Hackney,  Birmingham  ;  Mr.  James  Bailey, 
Loudon   .  .  .  ....  •     pp- 150-lSl 


THE  WOEK  IMPROVED. 
Third  Day,  Seventh  Session,  Thursday  Morning,  July  4x11, 

9-30  a.m.  Praise  and  Prayer — The  Value  of  E3Listuig  Sunday  School 
Organizations — Normal  and  Training  Classes  :  Mr.  W.  H.  Groser, 
B.Sc,  London — Examinations  for  Teachers  and  Scholars  :  Rev. 
T.  W.  Hohues,  Sheffield — Paid  and  Voluntary  Sunday  School 
Missionaries  :  Mr.  Boston  W.  Smith,  U.S.A. — Visitation  of  Local 
Unions  and  Schools  :  Mr.  B.  L.  Green,  Manchester     pp.  182-209 

Third  Day,  Eighth  Session,  Thursday  Afternoon,  July  4th. 

£■30  P.M.  Song  Service  and  Prayer — Management  of  Sunday  Schools — 
Recreative  Evening  Classes  :  Countess  of  Aberdeen,  London — 
Primaiy  Classes  :  Mrs.  E.  G.  Wheeler,  U.S.A. ;  Miss  Annie  S. 
Hai'low,  U.S.A.  —  Christian  Endeavom*  Societies  in  Simday 
Schools  :  Prof.  Charles  F.  Bradley,  D.D.,  U.S.A.— Adult  Classes": 
Mr.  ComiciUor  Pitt,  West  Bromveich— Pleasant  Sunday  After- 
noons :  Mr.  Coimcdlor  Mellors,  Nottingham — Home  Reading 
Cu'cles  (Paper)  :  Rev.  Dr.  Paton,  Nottingham — Boys'  Brigade 
(Paper)  :  Mr.  W.  A.  Smith,  Glasgow — Bands  of  Hope  (Paper)  : 


viii  Programme. 

Mr.  Wukel}-,  Sec.  Band  of  Hope  Union,  Loudon — Drawing-room 
Classes  (Paper)  :  Dr.  Gladstone,  F.E.S.,  London    .     pp.  210-268 

Third  Day,  Ninth  Session,  Thursday  Evening,  July  4th. 

6'30  P.M.  Song  Service  and  Prayer — Manngement  of  Sunday  Schools — 
Memorizing  tlie  Lesson  :  Mr.  F.  A.  Laing,  Glasgow — Music  and 
Worship  in  the  Sunday  School :  Mr.  Alfred  H.  Miles,  Ijondon — 
Home  Classes  for  Absentees  :  Dr.  W.  A.  Dimcan,  U.S.A. — The 
Teacher  and  his  Class  :  Eev.  A.  J.  Schauffler,  U.S.A.    pp.  269-298 


THE  WORK  EXTENDED. 
Fourth  Day,  Tenth  Session,  Friday  Morning,  July  5th. 

9'30  A.M.  Praise  and  Prayer — Seasons  for  Extension — The  Field  that 
Invites  Us  :  Her.  Dr.  Macfadyen,  Manchester  ;  Ker.  C.  H.  Wood- 
ruff, U.S.A.— The  Means  to  be  Adopted  :  Eer.  Charles  H.  Xelly 
London  ;  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs,  U.S.A.       .         .         .     pp.  299-331 


REVIEW  OF  THE  CONYENTION. 

Fourth  Day,  Eleventh  Session,  Friday  Afternoon,  July  5th. 

230  P.M.  Song  Seryice  and  Prayer — The  Next  Convention,  Time  and 
Place pp.  332-34-8 

Fourth  Day,  Twelfth  Session,  Friday  Evening,  July  5th. 

n  P.M.  Grand  Closing  Meeting  at  Exeter  Hall — Chairman  :  Eight  Hon. 
Lord  Kinnaird — Addi-esses  by  Eepresentatives  of  America,  Eng- 
land, the  Continent  of  Europe,  India,  and  the  Colonies 

pp.  349-376 


Saturday,  July  6th. 

Gnlhering  of  Delegates  in  the  Grovmds  of  Dollis  Hill,  Willesden,  by 
in-\itation  of  the  Eight  Hon.  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Aberdeen 

pp.  377-382 


Appe^-dix   .    .    .    .    .    ...  pp.  383-414 


THE   WORLD'S 
SUNDAY    SCHOOL   CONVENTION. 


RECEPTION  OF  DELEGATES  AT  THE  MANSION  HOUSE. 

The  Lord  Mayor  (Alderman  J.  C.  'Wluteliead)  and  Lady  Mayoress 
received  the  delegates  to  the  number  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  at  the 
Mansioii  House  on  Monday  evening,  July  1st.  Eefreshments  -were 
served  iu  the  Long  Parlour,  aud  the  company,  after  assembling  in  the 
Saloon,  proceeded  to  the  Egyptian  Hall,  where  the  orchestral  band  of 
the  London  Sunday  School  Chou-  aud  the  Eoyal  Handbell  Ringers, 
attii-ed  as  courtiers  of  the  time  of  Edward  IV.,  performed  at  intervals 
throughout  the  evening.  The  Lord  Mayor,  who  was  accompanied  by 
the  Lady  Mayoress,  took  the  chaii-  on  a  platform  at  the  end  of  the  hall, 
gm-roimded  by  the  orchestra,  and  amongst  others  on  or  near  the  dais 
•were  Lord  Kinnau-d,  Comit  Bemstorff,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  "Wilson 
(of  Exeter),  Mr.  E.  E.  Belsey,  J.P.,  Messrs.  J.  E.  Tresidder,  E.  Towers, 
and  C.  Waters  (Hon.  Secretaries,  Sunday  School  Union),  Colonel 
GrifEn,  'Mr.  B.  E.  Jacobs  (Chairman  of  the  International  Executive 
Committee  Simday  School  Union,  and  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of 
the  International  Lesson  Series),  Dr.  Randolph  (Secretary  of  the  Inter- 
national Lesson  Committee),  Dr.  Peloubet  (Boston),  Rev.  E.  H.  Marling 
(Montreal),  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon  (Bnltiuiore),  and  Mr.  Benjamm  Clarke. 

The  Lord  Matoh's  Addeess. 

Ladies  aud  gentlemen,  as  chief  magistrate  of  the  City  of  London, 
I  can  assure  you  that  I  never  feel  more  happy  than  when  I  am  identify- 
ing myself  with  a  good  cause — (cheers) — and  it  affords  mo  very  great 
satisfaction  indeed  to  have  an  opportunity  this  evenhig  of  receiving  at 
the  Mansion  House  those  who  are  identified  with  Sunday  school  teach- 
ing fi-om  aU  parts  of  the  world.  (Cheers  )  No  one  can  doubt  that  in 
days  gone  by  Smiday  school  teaching  was  of  the  gi'eatest  possible  im- 
portance to  evei-y  nation  in  which  it  was  carried  on.  There  is  a  general 
impression  that  Sunday  schools  were  first  established  by  Robert  Raikes 
of  Gloucester.  His  is  a  grand  name,  and  one  that  ought  to  be  had 
in  remembrance  in  all  coimtries  of  the  world.  (Cheers.)  I  am  glad  to 
tcnow  that  there  are  present  this  evening  some  delegates  from  that  ancient 


2  The   World,  f!  Sniidny  School  Covvcniiov . 

city  of  Gloucester,  -witli  -wlucli  lie,  the  first  leader  of  Sunday  school 
work   Avithm    the   United   Kingdom,   was  especially  associated ;  but, 
Avliilc  we  give  credit  to  Robert  Eaikes,  we  must  not  foi-get  that  Sunday 
schools  were  carried  on  in  some  countries  long  before  his  thne.     I  think 
I  should  not  be  veiy  far  wi-ong  if  I  were  to  say  that  probably  the  lu-st 
to  institute  Sunday  schools  in  the  world  was  a  man  whose  name  will 
be  associated  with  Chi-istian  reformation  for  all  time.     I  mean  Martin 
Luther.     (Cheers.)     He  in  a  few  years,  as  most  of  you  well  know,  was 
followed  by  a  man  in  om*  own  country  whose  name  deserves  to  be  held 
almost  in  equal  reverence.     I  mean  John  Knox.     (Cheers.)     But  there 
is  another  also  who  did  not  belong  to  the  Protestant  faith,  and  who 
yet  in  his  own  way  aiid  in  accordance  with  his  own  convictions  did  a 
gi'eat  deal  in  promoting  the  prmciples  of  Smiday  teaching.     I  mean 
Cardinal  Borromeo.     Many  of  om-  American  fiiends  who  have  come 
over  in  connection  with  this  Conference,  and  who  will  in  accordance  with 
the  habits  of  then-  countrymen  go  to  other  pai-ts  of  Em-ope — (laughter) — 
will  no  doubt  visit,  as  I  have  done,  the  cathedi-al  at  MUan,  and  they  will 
there   see  the  body  of  Cardinal  Borromeo  embalmed   in   the   crypt. 
However  we  may  differ  fi-om  liim  in  rehgious  tenets,  I  hope  that  we  will 
not  forget  that  he  in  his  day  and  generation,  and  in  accordance  with 
the  views  he  and  his  fellow-countrymen  held,  did  endeavom-  so  far  as 
he  could  to  advance  the  cause  of  Chi'istian  teacMng  in  liis  own  country. 
(Cheers.)     Well,  after  the  time  of  BoiTomeo,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
the  Siuiday  school  system  obtained  a  veiy  great  impulse — at  any  rate 
it  was  very  much  advanced  in  popular  estunation  and  iisefnluess,  both 
in  England  and  America.    Now,  I  am  happy  in  knowing  that  in  Smiday 
school  Avork  America  has  always  been  to  the  fi-ont.     (Cheers.)     As  far 
back  as  the  end  of  the  I7th  century — no,  it  was  immediately  after  the 
Declaration    of  Independence ;  and,   although  I    speak   as   the   chief 
magistrate  of  the  City  of  London,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  assert  that  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  a  very  happy  epoch  in  the  history  of 
America.     (Cheers.) 

At  the  end  of  the  17th  centmy  America  took  a  very  acti^'-e  and  im- 
portant part  in  the  advancement  and  promotion  and  extension  of  Sunday 
school  teaching  ;  and  I  hope  that  in  all  efforts  that  may  be  made  in 
days  to  come,  especially  in  good  Avork  hke  that,  avc  shall  always  Unci 
England  and  America  luiited.  (Loud  cheers.)  Well,  I  referred  to  the 
time  of  Eobert  Eaikes.  Robert  Raikes.  as  you  know,  established  Sunday 
schools  in. the  year  1781,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  his  Avork  has  had 
a  great  influence  for  good  on  the  daily  life,  the  Chiistiau  life,  the  social 
life  of  every  family  in  the  United  Xuigdom.  (Cheers.)  His  work  Avas 
extended  from  tune  to  time  into  every  toAvn  and  every  city  in  the 
United  Kuigdom,  and  there  is  no  telluig  to-day  Avliat  a  Avonderfid 
influence  for  good  the  action  of  Robert  Raikes  in  the  estabhshment  of 
the  first  Simday  school  in  Gloucester  has  had  for  the  benefit  of  the 
United  Kingdom  and  of  the  Avoiid  at  large.  I  hope  and  I  believe  that 
the  name  and  memoi'v  of  Robert  Raikes  will  live  in  the  heart  and  in 


Tho.  Lord  Mai/or's  Address.  3 

the  rocoUectioii  of  evorj  man  who  is  a  lovei-  of  his  country  and  of  every 
man  and  woman  who  has  any  regard  for  tlie  rehgious  teaching  of  the 
people  amongst  whom  we  live. 

In  the  first  instance,  as  you  know,  the  teachers  in  Sunday  schools 
•were  paid  teachers,  and  it  was  not  until  1786  tliat  the  idea  of  voluntary 
teaching  in  Sunday  schools  was  suggested.  It  was  first  brought  into 
jjrominenco  by  our  Wcsleyan  friends — I  think  they  were  then  called 
Methodists  (laughter  and  cheei-s) — in  the  town  of  Bolton,  in  Lancashire. 
A  great  many  good  things  have  emanated  from  Lancashire.  (Hear, 
hear.)  There  is  a  vitahty  and  a  strength  of  force  somehow  about 
Lancashire  people  that  one  cannot  fail  to  admire,  and  that  they  were 
the  first  to  introduce  voluntary  Sunday  school  teaching  cannot  be  con- 
sidered as  remarkable  by  any  of  us  who  know  anythmg  of  the  character 
of  the  people  of  that  great  county.  But  it  was  not  until  1800,  if  I  am 
rightly  informed,  that  the  system  of  voluntary  Sunday  school  teaching 
came  into  very  active  operation,  and  then  it  was,  I  beheve,  that  the 
Sunday  School  Union  was  established.  (Cheers.)  I  said  1800.  I  with- 
draw that,  as  they  say  in  the  House  of  Commons  ;  it  was  1803  ;  but 
still  I  am  not  very  wrong  in  my  figm-es.     (Laughter.) 

Well,  I  will  confess  I  am  old  enough  to  remember  when  Sunday 
school  teaching  was  not  confined  to  religious  instruction ;  secular 
subjects  were  taught  also.  At  that  time  there  is  no  doubt  that  Sunday 
schools  were  a  kind  of  educational  establishment  for  the  great  bidk  of 
the  poor  in  this  country,  avIio  wei-e  taught  secular  subjects — reading 
writing,  and  arithmetic — ^just  as  freely,  and  probably  as  well,  I  would 
not  say  better,  for  I  rather  incline  to  think  in  those  days  the  standard  of 
Smiday  school  teaching  was  not  of  the  very  liighest  order,  but  who  were 
taught  secular  just  as  well  as  they  were  taught  religious  subjects.  But 
the  time  came,  and  I  cannot  help  feeling  it  very  properly  came,  when 
the  education  of  the  people,  so  far  as  secular  subjects  were  concerned 
was  undertaken  partly  by  private  pliilantlu'opy  and  partly  also  by  State 
support. 

In  the  early  stages  of  primary  teaching  there  is  no  doubt  that 
to  a  veiy  great  extent,  the  religious  instruction  was  of  a  denominational 
chai-actor.  I  am  not  going  to  say  a  word  against  denominational 
teacliing  in  schools.  So  long  as  a  school  is  supported  by  a  certain 
denomination,  it  is  only  right  and  fair  that  that  denomhiation  should 
have  an  opportunity  of  givmg  the  distinctive  teacliing  connected  with 
its  own  body.  (Hear,  hear.)  But  in  later  years  we  have  gone  a  little 
beyond  that  stage  (hear,  hear,  and  cheers),  and  we  have  reached  a  time 
when,  in  all  rate  and  state-supported  schools,  religious  teaching  of  h 
distinctive  character  is  excluded.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  am  one  of  those 
who  were  connected  with  the  National  Education  League  in  its  first 
stages.  I  must  confess  that  I  was  then,  as  I  am  to-day,  opposed  to  any 
distinctive  teachmg  of  a  rehgious  character  being  given  in  rate  and 
state-supported  schools.  (Cheers.)  This  is  what  I  want  to  come  to. 
If  you  do  away  with  distinctive  teaching  in  primary  schools,  it  becomes 

B  2 


4  The   World's  Sandaij  School  Convention. 

a  greater  necessity  for  those  of  you  who  are  connected  with  Sunday 
schools  to  take  care  that  the  rehgious  teaching  of  those  cliildren  who 
arc  brought  up  in  rate  and  state-supported  schools  is  not  neglected. 
(Cheers.)  You  cannot  get  away  from  this,  that  so  far  as  your  Sunday 
schools  are  concerned,  looking  to  the  character  of  public  education 
to-day,  there  is  a  greater  necessity  than  ever  for  you  to  look  after  the 
religious  teaching  of  poorer  children.  Compulsory  education,  if  you 
follow  the  lines  of  freedom,  means  necessarily  the  exclusion  of  distinctive 
religious  teachhig.  Unless,  therefore,  you  do  what  you  can  to  extend 
tlie  usefidness  of  Sunday  schools,  I  fear  very  much  that  the  rishig  gene- 
ration may  to  a  certain  extent  be  without  that  religious  teaching  which 
is  desirable,  not  only  in  the  interests  of  their  own  souls,  but  desirable 
also,  to  put  it  on  a  lower  scale,  in  regard  to  the  moral  character  and  in- 
llueiice  of  the  country.     (Cheers.) 

Now,  I  am  very  glad  to  know  that  on  this  occasion  we  are  favoiu'cd 
with  the  presence  of  a  large  niunber  of  our  Americaii  brethren.  (Cheers.) 
I  know  it  is  a  common  thmg  to  speak  of  them  as  our  cousins.  "Well, 
to  me  a  cousin  is  a  distant  relation  (laughter),  and  I  very  much  prefer 
to  call  them  my  brethren.  (Cheers.)  They  are  my  brethren  (hear, 
liear),  and  some  of  my  ancestors  went  over  with  William  Penn,  and 
took  part  in  the  founding  of  Pennsylvania.  I  may  say  more,  that  one 
of  the  most  charming  Quaker  books  that  ever  was  written,  I  mean  tlie 
"  Christian  Quaker,"  was  jointly  written  by  William  Penn  and  G-eorgc 
AVhitehead,  one  of  my  connections.  (Cheers.)  I  am  glad  to  feel  that 
we  have  such  a  large  number  of  our  American  brethren  here  to-night, 
and  it  is  charming  beyond  measure  to  know  that  tliere  arc  so  many 
good  people  in  the  American  Union  who  feel  sufficient  strength  in  tlicir 
religious  convictions  that  they  will  come  all  the  way  fi-om  the  United 
States  in  order  to  take  part  in  such  a  gathering  as  this.  (Cheers.)  It 
shows  to  mo  that,  so  far  as  the  American  Union  is  concerned,  they 
take  a  higher  standpouit  than,  I  regi-et  to  believe,  our  neighbours  across 
tlie  Channel  take,  inasmuch  as  they  find  that  liberty  is  not  incompatible 
with  the  highest  religious  sentiments.  (Cheers.)  I  am  glad  also  to 
know  that  we  have  here  a  considerable  }iumber  of  our  colonial  fellow- 
countrymen.  (Cheers.)  I  use  the  term  fellow-coimti-ymen  advisedly, 
because  I  feel,  and  I  am  sure  they  feel,  that  they  are  part  and  parcel  of 
this  great  empire,  and  I  do  know  that  in  the  religious  teaching  whicii 
goes  on  in  our  great  colonies,  more  particidarly — I  speak  especially  of 
what  I  know  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand — they  recognise  very  much 
the  necessity  of  the  same  energj^  and  the  pui'suit  of  tlie  same  end  in 
regard  to  religious  instruction  as  we  do  in  this  country. 

I  had  the  pleasure  some  eight  or  nine  years  ago  of  visiting  the 
AustraHan  colonies,  and  I  was  very  much  struck  when  there  at  the  great 
influences  for  good  that  were  going  on,  and  I  was  more  struck  than 
anything  else  by  the  activity  which  has  been  shown  in  our  Austi-a- 
lian  colonies  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  England. 
(Cheers,)     I  was  walking  one  Sunday  evening  with  my  eldest  son,  who 


Hcsponsc  of  the  Delcijates.  5 

accoinpanioil  mc  up  the  uiiiiii  street  of  Auckland,  in  New  Zealand,  and 
as  wc  passed  a  very  liandsonic  building  \\c  heard  some  nnisie.  "\Ve 
thought  it  was  a  tlieatre,  but  with  tiie  curiosity  which  is  supposed  to 
be  specially  associated  with  ladies,  we  thought  wc  would  go  in  and  see 
what  was  going  on  ;  and  it  turned  out,  as  we  anticipated,  that  it  was 
A  tlieatrc,  but  there  was  a  religious  service  going  on  in  that  theatre 
which  was  ol"  tlie  most  hearty  and  Gospel-like  character  I  tliink  I  have 
ever  seen  or  heard  in  any  religious  building  in  any  part  of  the  world 
(cheers),  and  when  I  made  inquiry  as  to  what  the  service  was  connected 
■with,  I  was  informed  that  it  was  the  Young  Men's  C'ln-istian  Association. 
(Hear,  hear.)  I  said:  "What!  tlie  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion? Have  you  such  a  body  here  in  Australia?"  The  answer  was, 
and  I  was  delighted  beyond  measure  to  hear  it — the  answer  was,  "  ^V'e 
have  a  number  of  branches  here  of  your  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  in  Aldersgate  .Street,  London."  (Cheers.)  Well,  all  these 
things  seem  to  show  to  me  that  there  is  going  on  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  a  considerable  amount  of  Christian  teaching  with  a  view  to  tlie 
evangelization  and  religious  instruction  of  the  communities  in  which 
these  teaching  institutions  are  oarried  on.  1  hope  that  that  kind  of 
influence  may  be  continued  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  I  cannot 
conceive  that  anything  would  tend  more  powerfully  towards  the  dis- 
semination of  Christian  truths  than  the  meeting  of  Sunday  school 
teachers  in  London  on  this  occasion,  where  those  wlio  rejiresent  the 
Sunday  school  system  in  various  parts  of  the  world  come  to  consult 
with  each  other  in  regard,  not  only  to  the  necessities  of  the  i^rcscnt 
time,  but  also — and  this  seems  to  me  of  the  highest  imjjortance — in 
i-egard  to  what  may  in  future  tend  to  the  more  perfect  dissemination 
and  greater  extension  of  religious  truths  throughout  the  world.  (Loud 
cheers.) 

Tlie  Lord  Mayor,  again  rising,  said :  I  omitted  to  mention  the  fact 
that  Count  Bcrnstoi'tl',  the  jvpresentative  of  tlie  German  J'hnpire,  is 
amongst  us — (hear,  hear) — and  I  shall  ask  him  to  addi-ess  a  few  words 
to  you  on  this  occasion.  I  hope,  and  from  conversation  I  have  had 
with  him  this  evenmg  I  believe,  he  will  be  able  to  assure  you  that 
the  general  impression  in  regard  to  the  lack  of  rehgious  teaching  in 
Germany  is  not  true  to  the  extent  that  many  suppose.     (Cheei's.) 


Count  EiiRNSTOEFF  (Berlin). 

My  Lord  Mayor,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  I  feel  it  a  great  honour 
to  be  able  to  express  at  the  present  moment  those  sentiments  which 
I  am  sure  are  shared  by  you  all.  I  mean  expressions  of  deep 
gratitude  to  om-  chairman,  the  first  magistrate  of  this  city,  for 
the  very  cordial  welcome  he  has  given  to  tliis  Convention  to-night. 
(Cheers.)  For  me,  personally,  it  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have 
come  to  England.  I  have  spent  many  happy  years  in  London,  and  it 
is  always  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  when  I  can  come  back  to  this  city, 


G  The    ^yorJfVs  Sniifhiij  School.  Convention. 

wliidi  has  for  so  long  been  a  second  liomu  to  mc.  But  that  whicli  I 
most  appreciate  here  in  England  is  its  large  and  generous  interest  in 
all  good  work,  wherever  and  in  whatever  couiitrv  it  may  be  done. 
(Hear,  hear.)  When  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  receives  his  guests, 
you  know  that  they  are  often  men  of  great  importance — they  are 
Cabinet  Ministers  sometimes — and  they  give  speeches  of  great  political 
importance;  to  them  everybody  listens  and  wants  to  knoiv  whether 
some  political  secret  will  be  unfolded.  (Laughter.)  'Now,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  to-night  there  is  nothing  of  that  kind.  There  is  no  question 
of  the  politics  of  this  great  empire  to  be  discussed  to-night ;  no  ques- 
tion of  Em-opean  politics,  though  they  probably  are  very  interesting  at 
t!ie  present  moment ;  nothing  of  that  kind,  only  one  great  question  of 
tlie  politics  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  (Cheers.)  One  feeling  animates 
us  all,  that  the  "Word  of  God  shall  be  brought  to  the  children  of  all 
countries. 

You  have  been  reminded  by  his  lordship  of  the  great  German 
Reformer,  Martin  Liither,  whose  name  is  so  well  known,  not  only  in 
our  country,  but  also  in  this  countiy  and  other  coimtries,  and  it  cer- 
tainly is  true  that  he  was  the  fh-st  to  show  that  the  teaching  of  the 
Bible  should  begin  in  early  years  and  that  the  children  ought  to  be 
brought  to  the  Saviour.  But  vei-y  often  in  Germany  we  have  had  very 
good  ideas,  but  they  have  not  been  equally  well  executed.  Now  it  was 
a  friend  from  the  United  States  of  America,  Mr.  Woodruff  of  Brooklyn, 
who  came  to  lis  in  Berlin  and  other  German  cities,  25  years  ago,  and 
sliewed  lis  this  practical  system  of  the  Sunday  school,  Now,  we  have 
in  Germany  at  present  schools  where  there  is  religious  instruction,  but, 
besides,  we  have  a  great  number  of  Sunday  schools.  Of  course,  we 
have  not  so  many  as  here  or  in  the  United  States  ;  but  stUl  I  can  say 
vliat  tlie  progress  has  been  veiy  good  during  these  twenty-five  years, 
and  we  hope  that  this  great  Convention  will  give  a  new  impulse  to  the 
work.  (Hear,  liear.)  Let  me  express  once  more  oiir  deep  gratitude 
for  the  vei-y  kind  reception  we  have  had  to-night.     (Cheers.) 

Het.  De.  Dixon  (^Baltimore). 

My  Lord  Mayor,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  I  cannot  find  words  to 
express  the  great  appreciation  that  we  feel  for  the  kind  words  of 
greetmg  you  have  just  given  its.  "We  come  with  the  greetings  of 
millions  of  Sunday  school  workers  in  the  United  States.  (Hear, 
]\ear.)  On  the  Bothnia  for  ten  days  we  had  a  Sunday  School  Con- 
vention from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  ten  at  night.  (Laughter.) 
It  was  frequently  remarked  that  the  Bothnia  was  the  ^latfion-er 
returning  to  England.  "We  returned  with  the  result  of  the  sacrifices 
and  the  fidelity  and  the  prayers  of  the  pilgrims.  (Cheers.)  Some  of  us 
have  had  an  impression,  sir,  that  a  httle  over  a  hundred  years  ago> 
after  we  had  shown  ourselves  a  little  plucky,  you  decided  to  let  us 
alone  and  see  what  would  become  of  ixs.     We  are  glad,  su-,  that  you 


llcx^ioiisc   (if  lie:   J)cl'-iJ<ilcS.  7 

dill— (clavrs  ami  laiighU'r)— I'oi-  wo  feel  tiuiL  now  wc  ivluni  to  oiii- 
inothor's  gn-ctiiig  and  lii'v  God  speed.  AVe  bring  witli  lis  the  open 
Bible  tliat  we  reeeived  IVom  you.     (Hear,  bear.) 

I  hardly  know  why  the  distinguisbed  ebairman  of  tliis  committee, 
bavuig  souglit  for   several   bretlu-eu   wbo   could   represent  truly  the 
Sunday   scbool  and  its   activity,    having  been  connected    with  it  for 
many  years,  should  have  requested  me  to  respond  miless  it  be  that 
t  bey  were  anxious  that  something  looking  like  Young  America  should 
do  "it.     (Laughter.)     In  the  Kew  World  we  believe  in  the  new,  but  in 
the  old  Bible  our  hope  is  still  fixed— (cheers)— and  as  we  look  upon 
these  old  buildings  with  their  beauty  of  architecture  and  their  solidity 
of  substance  and  form,  we  are  reminded  at  every  step  of  the  old  Bible, 
■with  a  better  architecture,  with  more  beauty  and  more  solidity  than 
England's  cathedral.     (Cheers.)     You  have  been  the  conservators  of 
the  truth— and  there  is  such  a  thing  '.—and  we  young  Americans  ought 
to  leani  it,  as  making  advance  by  standing  still  (laughter)— standing 
still  to  grow.     Two  boats  were  racing  along  the  American  coast,  the 
captaiix  of  one  noticed  that  the  tide  was  stronger  than  the  wind  wliich 
was  driving  both  boats  back  and  he  simply  cast  anchor  and  won  the 
race.     (Laughter  and  cheers.)     We  are  in  oiu-  age  of  drift— shall  we 
say  political  drift,  educational  drift,  scientific  di-ift,  rehgious  di-ift  ?— and 
we  need  to  have  the  anchor  of  the  soul  sm-e  and  steadfast— (cheers)— 
and  those  who  hold  by  the  anchor  are  those  who  make  the  best  progress. 
(Hear,  hear.)     We  come  from  across  the  water  to  represent  also  the 
aggressive  idea  in  Sunday  school  work,  reaching  the  poor   and  the 
degraded,  the  rich  and  the  exalted,  with  the  same  book,  the  same 
Clu-ist,  and  the  same  heaven  over  all.     (Hear,  hear.)     And  shall  I  sur- 
prise you  to  say  that  some  of  the  delegates  on  the  floor  of  this  house 
travelled  further  to  reach  New  York  than  they  did  after  they  left  N ew 
Y'ork  to  reach  England  ?     (Hear,  hear.)     They  live  in  what  was  known 
when  -wo  were   boys   and  was   marked  xipon  the  map  as  the  great 
American  desert.   '  (Laughter.)      That  wilderness  has  been  made  to 
rejoice,  that  desert  to  blossom  as  the  rose.     I  am  not  sure  but  that 
Chicago  is  on  the  edge  of  it— (laughter)— and  other  large  cities  are  now 
in  the  centre. 

But  from  California's  golden  shore  to  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic 
the  effort  of  Sunday  school  workers  is  to  teach  the  people,  holding 
forth  the  word  of  light.  God  said,  "  Let  there  be  hght,"  and  there 
was  light ;  and  it  is  oiu-s  not  to  speak  hght  into  existence,  but  to 
hold  it  forth  as  God  has  shown  it  out.  We  have  never  tu-ed  of  the 
old  sun,  and  the  old  stars,  and  the  old  moon,  and  the  old  mountains, 
and  the  old  ocean,  and  Old  England— (cbeers)—England  with  her 
history  proving  that  God  has  guided  it  certainly  in  the  centuries 
recently  passed.  It  is  not  always  those  ahead  that  guide.  Some  of  us 
passengers  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  reach  England  especially  during 
the  first  two  or  thi-ee  days— Gaughter)— and  now  and  then  you  would 
sec  a  forlorn  brother  out  on  the  prow,  trying  to  put  his  head  as  near 


8  The   WorkVs  Sunday  School  Convention. 

the  shore  as  possible — (Uuightcr) — and  one  slanding  on  a  passing  vessel 
might  think  he  was  leading  the  Bothnia.  He  was  ahead,  to  be  sure  ; 
lie  seemed  to  be  leading  :  but  out  of  sight  was  the  rudder  that  guided, 
out  of  sight  was  the  pilot  with  his  hand  upon  the  rudder,  and  whoever 
seems  to  lead  out  of  sight  is  tlie  God  of  the  luiiverse,  with  His  hand 
upon  the  rudder.  (Hear,  hear.)  Trulj^  it  has  been  so  with  England. 
May  we  not  say  equally  so  with  America?      (Hear,  hear.) 

We  were  delighted  to  hear  that  in  G-ermany  there  is  now  systematic 
religious  teaching  ;  the  fact  is,  the  gospel  of  truth  is  going  far  and  deep 
over  the  world.  Until  now  it  has  girdled  it :  does  it  not  shine  even  where 
England's  standard,  upon  which  the  sun  does  not  set,  has  not  yet 
waved  ?  I  saw  floating  together  the  other  day  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
and  the  Union  Jack — (cheers) — and  I  said  it  would  be  appropriate  to 
put  above  them  both  the  cross  of  Christ.  (Hear,  hear.)  These  two 
standards  hnked  with  the  cross !  We  English-speaking  people  are  yet 
to  christianize  the  world.  A  part  of  us  climbed  a  high  mountain,  and 
Ave  had  to  go  nine  miles  along  the  crest.  After  we  had  travelled  a  mile 
we  went  into  a  cloud,  dense  as  a  Loudon  fog.  (Laughter.)  We  coidd 
hardly  see  our  way  for  three  mUes,  the  cloud  still  hanging  upon  the 
mountain.  By-and-by  the  clouds  on  the  sunward  side  began  to  separate, 
and  we  saw  what  one  of  the  party  called  the  battle  of  the  clouds,  and 
it  was  a  sublime  sight.  A  battalion  of  cloud  rolling  down  the  mountain 
side  met  another  battalion  of  cloud,  and  they  seemed  to  grapple  until 
both  were  slain,  and  the  sun  with  his  light  all  the  time  gUnting  down 
upon  it.  After  a  whUe  on  the  sunward  side  nothing  but  light,  and  then 
the  battle  raged  right  along  the  course.  The  cloud  driven  by  the  wind 
marched  up  the  mountain  side  on  to  the  top,  and  there  was  met  by  an 
avalanche  of  light.  For  one  hour  and  a  half  tliere  was  a  battle  between 
the  cloud  and  the  sim,  between  darkness  and  light,  until  after  a  while 
the  clouds  were  vanquished  altogether,  and  we  found  ourselves  in  a 
great  circular  room  carpeted  witli  verdure  and  hung  about  with  cur- 
tains of  crimson  and  gold.  And  whenever  the  clouds  from  the  sunward 
side  shall  be  banished,  it  will  not  be  long  till  the  clouds  on  the  side  of 
iniidelity  and  sin  shall  be  banished  also,  and  we  hail  the  day  in  England, 
in  Germany,  in  America,  and  ui  all  tlie  world,  that  is  approaching 
when  the  clouds  of  the  infidelity  shall  be  banished  before  the  rays  of 
the  Sun  of  righteousness.  (Cheers.)  This  will  crown  Him  as  Conqueror 
and  as  Lord.  (Cheers.)  Let  me  return  again  our  sincere,  heartfelt 
gratitude,  and  I  would  like  to  compress  into  one  sentence,  if  I  could, 
the  appreciation  and  gratitude  of  the  millions  of  Sunday  school  teachers, 
and  scholars,  and  workers  who  are  represented  by  the  delegates 
assembled  here.     (Cheers.) 

Rev.  F.  H.  Marling  (Montreal). 

My  Lord  Mayor,  I  am  very  glad  that  the  colonies  are  to  be  honoured 
with  a  special  representation  in  the  greeting  of  this  evening,  for  some- 


Itesponsc  of  the  Delegates.  9 

times  wc  liavc  a  little  of  thu  feeling  that  the  elder  brotlier  in  tlic  parable 
expressed  for  the  prodigal  son  when  he  came  home  (laughter)  and  liad 
tlie  fatted  calf  killed  for  him,  wjiile  he  got  nothing.  (Laughter.)  "VV'e 
think  a  great  deal  of  the  prodigal  son,  wlio  has  been  so  grandly  repre- 
sented on  this  platform  to-niglit  (laughter  and  elieers)  ;  and  we  do  not 
refuse  in  these  days  to  go  in  when  there  is  a  merry-making  for  his  return 
(laughter)  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  we  think  that  the  good  boys  wlio 
have  always  stopped  at  home,  and  always  tried  to  do  their  duty  by  the 
old  man,  sliould  iiave  an  equally  good  reception.  (Cheers.)  Now,  I  can 
very  heartily  reciprocate  all  tliat  has  been  said  by  the  Lord  Mayor  in 
regard  to  the  bi-otlierly  feeling  that  is  felt  by  Englishmen  towards 
Americans.  If  any  members  of  the  British  empire  can  do  that,  it  is 
those  who  live  nearest  to  the  Americans,  who  know  them  best ;  and  let 
nie  say,  having  not  only  lived  by  them,  and  lived  and  Avorked  among 
them,  and  expecting  soon  to  make  niy  home  amongst  them  again,  the 
more  you  know  them  the  better  yon  will  like  them.  That  testhuony  I 
very  heartily  bear.  It  is  certainly  a  Acry  signal  fact  that  thei-e 
snould  have  come  over  to  England  at  tliis  time  250  Christian  men  and 
women  on  no  other  errand  than  to  consult  together  with  the  brethren  of 
the  older  lands  in  regard  to  this  great  work  of  Sunday  school  instruction. 
I  believe  such  a  voyage  as  that  of  the  Bothnia,  carrying  such  a 
company  on  board,  has  never  been  performed  by  any  vessel  since  sliips 
began  to  plough  the  mighty  deep ;  and  I  can  heartily  testify  to  wluit 
my  brother  has  already  said  in  regard  to  the  brotherly,  hearty,  joyous, 
even  humoi-ous,  and  faithful  spirit  that  prevailed  on  board,  togetlier 
with  the  deep  and  earnest  purpose  that  did  not  allow  \is  to  wait  imtil 
we  came  to  London  and  entered  into  the  Convention  to  talk  about 
the  religious  work  of  the  Sunday  school;  but  it  was  Eible,  Sunday 
School,  Christian  work,  and  all  sucli  matters  that  were  the  theme  of 
om*  songs,  tlie  theme  of  om*  convei-sations,  and  the  tlieme  of  our 
meetings  from  morning  till  night,  and  we  often  said  that  that  ship  was 
in  one  respect  like  heaven,  "  where  congregations  ne'er  break  \ip, 
and  Sabbaths  never  end."  (Laughter.)  We  have  had  a  ten  days'  Con- 
vention already  upon  the  waters,  and  we  are  expecting  a  four  days' 
t'onvention  upon  the  land.  "VVe  were  greatly  disappointed  in  not  bemg 
able  to  reach  London  on  Satm-day  evening,  but  we  arrived  at  Liverpool 
at  midnight  on  Satm-day,  and  ah-eady  we  had  agreed,  as  Sunday  school 
workers,  to  show  our  honour  for  the  day  of  the  Lord  by  not  travelling 
(cheers)  to  London  even  in  the  earliest  hoiu's  of  the  Lord's  Day,  and 
we  had  a  real  feast  in  Liverpool.  London  sent  its  representative  in  the 
person  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Oswald  Dykes,  who  gave  those  who  had  the 
l^rivilege  of  hearing  him  one  of  his  noblest  sermons  ;  and  the  Sunday 
school  workers  of  Liverpool,  with  immense  expedition  and  good  manage- 
ment, got  us  up  a  welcome  meeting,  and  in  the  CAening,  services  were 
lield  ill  the  Young  Men's  Association  Hall,  such  as  made  tliose  who 
were  strangers  feel  that  the  heart  of  England  was  warm  and  the  hand- 
clasi)  firm  in  connection  with  tliis  work  for  Christ.     (Cheers.) 


10  Tilt'    WarliVti  Siiiidati   School   t'oiircitlioii. 

II'  yoii  will  allow  mo  a  pcrsoual  reforoucc,  I  civmo  I'roiu  tho  county  of 
Robert  Raikes,  aud  my  grandfathers  on  both  sides  were  engaged  in  the 
early  form  of  Sabbath  schools  to  wliich  you,  my  lord,  have  so  accurately 
referred.     I  just  remember  in  my  boyish  days,  in  one  of  Whitfield's 
places  of  worship,  seeing  the  old  writing-desks  turned  out  because  tlie 
pubhc  schools  were  then  giving  education  to  children.     That  was  the 
case,  as  his  lordship  has  said.     What  a  contrast  between  the  Sabbatli 
school  of  that  tune,  with  its  teachers,  its  elementaiy  instruction  in 
ARC,  and  the  Sabbath  school  idea  as   it  has    been  developed   in 
America  and  in  England  !     The  Sabbath  school  has  grown  to  wonderful 
proportions  in  America.     It  is  not  so  much  a  mission  fi-om  the  richer 
to  the  poorer,  as  it  is  an  agency  of  the  Glim'ch  for  edncatmg  the  whole 
of  its  own  childi-en  of  all  ranks  under  the  most  cultivated  teachers, 
and  with  the  most  advanced  helps  from  professors  and  others  versed 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  Word  of  God.      And,  although  sometunes 
you  may  think  the  American  habit  of  mind  a  little  too  lively,  and 
perhaps  not  sufficiently  solemn,  and  rei'erent,  the  words  that  my  brother 
has   spoken   on  this  platform  to-night,  and  the  tone  in  which  these 
words  have  heen  spoken,  express  the  true  and  deep  conviction  of  the 
great  masses  of  the  Christian  workers  of  America.  (Cheers.)  I  am  sorry, 
sir,  that  I  cannot  speak  as  you  have  done  in  regard  to  the  Australian 
colonies.     I  represent  those  of  British  North  America,  but  the  same 
words  apply  to  both.   We  have  the  Sabbath  school,  we  have  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  we  have  vigorous  and  prosperous  churches, 
we  have,  we  think,  something  of  the  conservatism  of  the  old  land,  with 
the  enterprise  and  aggressiveness  of  the  new,  and  very  heartily,  in  the 
name  of  my  brother  colonists,  do  I  thank  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London 
for  the  reception  that  has  been  given  us  to-night.     (Cheers.) 


LoED  KiNNAIED  {President  of  the  Sunday  ScJiool  Unioii). 

My  Lord  Mayor,  Lady  Mayoress,  and  Clu-istian  friends,  I  am  sure 
it  woidd  be  out  of  place  if  we  ui  the  small  country  at  home  did  not  joiii 
in  tills  vote  of  thanks,  if  you  may  call  it  so,  to  the  Lord  Mayor  for  in- 
viting VIS  to  this,  the  opening  meeting  of  what  I  believe  wiU  be  a 
great  Convention.  (Hear,  hear.)  We  feel  it  to  be  especially  kind  of 
the  Loi'd  Mayor  and  Lady  Mayoress  to  welcome  us  here.  Some  of 
you  came  from  distances,  and  perhaps  are  more  accustomed  than  we 
have  been  to  have  Conventions  of  this  kind  patronized  by  the  highest 
authorities;  but  I  am  glad  to  say  we  live  iu  days  of  advance  and 
i  mprovement,  and  I  think  one  of  the  great  improvements  is  that  it  is 
recognized  by  those  in  authority  in  our  great  towns,  and  especially  in 
this,  the  chief  city  of  the  Rritish  Empu-e,  that  Smiday  school  teachers 
are  doing  a  national  work,  in  a  way  that  was  certainly  not  recognized 
twenty  or  tlurty  years  ago — (cheers) — and  I  cannot  but  tliink  that  the 
keynote  of  our  Convention  has  been  struck  by  our  coming  here  this 


TIkiiiI.s  li>  llir  Lvnl   Mtii/iir.  11 

fvi-iiiiig.  JL  lia»  bocii  Biij^gt'stccl  thai  vo  luivc  Jiul  couil'  togcllicr  to 
talk  about  any  new  standards  of  belief  or  any  new  creeds,  however 
popular  they  may  be  in  some  quarters.  We  have  not  come  to  set  up 
any  new  theological  standai-d  vith  regard  to  Sunday  school  teachers. 
Tiie  essential  land-marks  of  truth  do  not  change  :  they  stand  immove- 
able, like  8t.  Paul's,  the  Koyal  Exchange,  or  Westminster  Abbey,  as 
amongst  the  things  -which  remaui,  though  their  surroundings  may  be 
subject  to  change. 

We  who  live  in  this  country  have  to  learn  a  great  deal  from  brethren 
in  other  parts  of  the  world.  I  have  twice  visited  America,  but  have 
never  had  time  to  go  to  Australia.  I  have  gone  half-way— to  India — 
and  I  hope  before  I  die  to  visit  my  compatriots  in  the  gi-eat  Australasian 
colonies.  (Cheers.)  I  do  feel,  whenever  I  go  to  America,  I  come  home 
with  larger  ideas  with  regard  to  Christian  work.  Not  that  I  believe 
merely  in  large  things.  To  show  what  can  be  done  across  the  water,  a 
friend  in  New  York  wanted  a  good  church  and  Sunday  schools.  He 
called  his  friends  togethei-,  and  in  a  vei*y  short  time  raised  £30,000 
to  build  just  a  Sunday  school  and  three  or  four  other  rooms  for 
chiu'ch  work.  (Clieers.)  I  doubt,  if  we  sent  round  a  subscription  list 
here  for  school  buildings,  if  one  congregation  in  twenty  would  get 
such  a  response.  There  are,  no  doubt,  some  exceptions.  In  the  north 
of  England  there  are  some  very  fine  Sunday  schools,  and  in  London 
too.  I  hope  friends  will  tell  ns  how  they  manage  to  persuade  the 
rich  people  to  give  money  for  these  fine  Smiday  schools.  I  am  sure 
it  is  no  good  to  expect  to  keep  the  upper  classes  in  our  Sunday  schools 
till  we  have  proper  buildings.  It  is  the  custom  to  regard  Sunday 
schools  as  for  poorer  classes  and  mission  clistricts.  In  the  United 
States  they  have  hold  of  the  right  idea  that  every  one  should  be  repre- 
sented in  the  Sunday  school. 

There  is  another  thhig  with  which  the  Lord  Mayor  will  be  pleased. 
I  heard  from  a  friend  last  week  that  in  one  part  of  Canada  they  had 
regidarly  throughout  the  whole  district  Sunday  schools  in  every  prison, 
and  they  are  welcomed  by  prison  authorities.  (Cheers.)  Ladies  and 
gentlemen  go  and  are  welcomed  in  the  prisons  and  reformatories  and 
penitentiaries.  I  think  that  is  a  first-rate  idea.  And  it  would  be  a 
good  thing  if  we  could  in  this  way  get  at  some  of  the  unfortunate  classes, 
the  lapsed  classes  as  they  are  called.  There  are  many  who  are  outside 
our  Sunday  schools  and  churches,  and  we  want,  if  possible,  to  get  them 
in.  We  must  go  ahead  and  make  a  new  dedication  of  ourselves  to  the 
Sunday  school  work.  We  want  not  only  fresh  ideas,  but  we  desire  to 
know  how  to  can-y  them  out  in  practice.  We  want  the  perfect  machine 
and  the  loving  heart  brought  together.  I  hope  the  effects  of  the  Con- 
vention will  be  felt  in  all  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom.  In  conclusion, 
and  as  representmg  tlie  United  Kingdom,  I  retiu-n  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Lady  Mayoress  our  hearty  thanks  for  havmg  invited  us  here  this 
day,  thanks  in  Mhich  our  American,  Austrahan,  Canadian,  and  Conti- 
nental friends  cordially  join.     (Cheers.) 


12  The   WorliVs  Siuulaij  School  Conoentlou. 


Colonel  Geiffin  {London) . 

M}-  Lord  Mayor,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  stand  to-night  in  a  some- 
•what  peculiar  position.  We  are  here  as  representing  all  tlie  various 
quarters  of  this  great  globe.  My  mother  Avas  born  in  Scotland ;  my 
Avife  is  of  the  same  nationality.  I  was  born  in  America.  My  heart  and 
interest  are  largely  there,  but  for  the  time  being  I  am  resident  on  tliis 
side  of  the  water.  For  many  years  I  was  actively  engaged  in  Sunday 
school  work  in  America,  and  as  a  worker  thei-e  I  claim  to  be  with  others 
a  guest  to-night.  As  an  English  citizen,  or  English  resident  rather,  for 
I  am  not  a  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  I  am 
here  as  a  host  or  one  of  the  hosts  to  welcome  our  friends.  Therefore 
to-night,  my  Lord  Mayor,  not  only  on  behalf  of  Amei-ica,  I  being  a  son, 
but  as  a  i-esident  in  England,  I  wish  to  second  most  heartily  the  resolu- 
tion which  has  been  proposed.  As  an  Englishman  I  have  acquired 
some  of  the  secrets  connected  with  Simday  school  Avork,  and  even  you, 
my  Lord  Mayor,  may  not  be  quite  conversant  with  the  fact  that  the 
friends  who  have  discoursed  to  us  sweet  music  to-night  are  all  Sunday 
school  workers.  (Cheers.)  Our  friends  the  bell-ringers  only  some 
short  time  smce  made  an  excursion  tlu-ough  Sweden  and  Norway,  and 
as  the  result  of  then*  visit  they  handed  in  over  £200  to  the  Continental 
anission  work  of  the  Sunday  School  Union.  (Cheers.)  Our  fi-iends 
upon  this  platfoi-m  constitute  the  London  Sunday  School  Chou-,  and  we 
feel  proud  of  them.     (Cheers.) 

I  am  pleased  to  have  this  opportunity  of  acknowledging  the 
services  both  of  the  ringers  and  of  the  Smiday  Sclaool  Choir,  and, 
if  I  may  be  permitted,  I  would  like  to  add  to  this  resolution  one 
other  item,  that  is,  om-  special  thanks  to  the  Lady  Mayoress  for 
gracing  this  assemblage  by  her  presence.  (Loud  cheers.)  We  are 
deeply  grateful  to  you,  sir,  for  encouraging  this  World's  Convention, 
for  the  reception  which  you  have  accorded  lis  to-night,  only  adding 
one  to  the  many  kindnesses  you  have  done,  not  only  to  the  English 
people,  but  to  those  from  many  lands.  (Cheers.)  As  an  American,  I 
can  say  that  Americans  fully  appreciate  the  honour  you  have  done 
them  to-night,  and  from  the  English  side  I  can  say  that,  knowing  as 
we  do  your  many  labours  and  the  services  you  are  called  npon  to 
pei'form,  we  are  doubly  grateful  for  this  reception.  (Cheers.)  As 
the  Lord  Mayor  cannot  put  this  resolution,  I  will  ask  those  who  are 
in  favom*  of  the  resolution  proposed  by  Lord  Kinnaird,  and  which  I 
now  second,  to  hold  up  in  the  fu'st  place  their  hands.  (All  hands  were 
held  np.)  As  Englishmen  are  not  quite  conversant  with  American 
ways,  I  want  the  American  portion  of  this  assembly  to  give  the 
Chautauqua  salute. 

There  was  immediately  a  waving  of  handkerchiefs  in  all  parts  of  tlie 
hall,  accompanied  by  cheers. 


ThaiiLs  l<>   Ihr    Lord  Maijur.  13 

Tuii  Loud  Mayor  said :  Ladius  and  gentlemen,  it  is  certain  tliat 
wc  in  tliis  eoiintry  are  not  altogether  used  to  tlie  latter  part  of  tliat 
ecreniony,  and  I  take  it  that  it  was  specially  intended  in  honour  oi 
the  Lady  Mayoress  (cheers)  ;  and,  if  so,  I  think  I  would  say,  at  least 
I  would  say  if  she  were  not  present,  that  it  is  thoroughly  deserved. 
(Cheers  and  laughter.)  The  Lady  Mayoress  is,  I  can  assure  you, 
as  sincerely  anxious  as  I  am  at  all  times  to  associate  herself  in 
good  Avork  (cheers),  and  it  has  given  us  both  very  great  gratification 
indeed  to  receive  here  on  this  occtvsion  so  large  a  gathering  of  Sunday 
school  teachers,  and  more  particularly  because  we  have  reason  to 
believe  that  those  who  are  assembled  hei-e  represent  to  a  very  great 
extent  all  denominations  of  Christian  bodies.  (Cheers.)  It  seems  to 
ine  that  what  is  wanted  in  these  days  moi-e  than  anything  else  is  the 
union  of  all  bodies,  so  far  as  they  can  possibly  go  together,  in  the  pro- 
motion of  good.  (Hear,  hear)  In  days  gone  by,  I  am  very  nuich 
afraid  that  the  different  Chi-istian  denominations  have  been  rather 
inclined  to  assert  their  own  views  than  to  see  how  far  they  could  imite 
for  the  common  cause.  I  cannot  help  feeling  that,  while  we  may  hold 
to  the  views  we  have  that  are  non-essential,  wo  should  never  fail  to 
endeavour  to  act  together  in  all  that  is  essential  for  the  promotion  of 
Christianity.     (Cheers.) 

Now  I  am  going  to  tell  jou  a  secret.  This  is,  of  course,  a  private 
gathering  to-day,  and  what  I  say  will  not  be  noticed  by  the  press. 
(Laughter.)  I  am  receiving  hei-e  to-day  Sunday  school  teachers — 
delegates,  I  think,  is  the  term — from  aU.  parts  of  the  world.  To- 
morrow it  will  be  my  very  great  privilego  to  give  a  dinner  in  honour 
of  the  archbishops  and  bishops  of  the  United  Kmgdom.  You  are 
aware,  probably,  that  last  year  there  was  what  is  called  a  Pan-Anglican 
Synod,  and  you  are  aware,  probably,  that  an  encyclical  letter  was  cir- 
culated afterwards.  In  that  encyclical  letter  a  recommendation  was 
made  that  the  ministers  of  the  Established  Cluu-ch  shoidd  endeavour 
as  far  as  possible  to  work  in  liarraony  with  other  Christian  denomhia- 
tions.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  read  that  letter,  or  perhaps  I  ought  to  say 
such  portion  of  it  as  I  had  time  to  read — lord  mayors  not  having  much 
lime  at  their  disposal — and  I  think  I  gathered  the  spirit  of  the  recom- 
mendation, and  I  have  invited,  to  meet  the  archbishops  and  bishops 
and  clergy  of  the  Established  Church  of  England  to-morrow  evening  in 
this  hall,  at  a  banquet,  many  of  the  leading  Nonconlbrmist  ministers 
within  the  metropolis.  (Loud  cheers.)  I  know  that  that  is  an  entirely 
new  departure — there  have  been  some  new  departures  witlim  my  year 
of  oflicc  (cheers) — but  I  am  very  happy  to  be  able  to  say  that  my  sugges- 
tion has  been  received  with  the  utmost  cordiality  by  the  leaders  of  the 
Established  Church  of  England  (cheers),  and  it  will  be  to  me  a  very 
sincere  pleasure  indeed  to  feel  that,  on  the  first  occasion  when  the  great 
leaders  of  the  different  Christian  denominations  of  this  country  meet 
together  in  this  hall,  I  am  the  Lord  Mayor  for  the  time  being. 
(Cheers.) 


14  The    WorhVs  Snndaij  School   Convention. 

Now  I  will  come  back  to  the  resolution,  I  am  deeply  grateful  to  you 
for  the  very  cordial  reception  you  have  given  to  the  resolution  proposed 
by  my  friend,  Lord  Kinnau-d,  and  seconded  by  Colonel  Griffin,  and  it 
has  afforded  me  and  the  Lady  Mayoress  tlie  very  sincerest  satisfaction 
to  see  you  all  here  on  this  occasion ;  and  if  the  result  is  in  any  way  to 
promote  the  pubhc  good,  either  social  or  reUgioiis,  we  shall  feel  ourselves 
amply  repaid  for  what  little  labom-  we  have  incm-red.     (Clieers.) 

The  company  then  adjoui-ned  to  the  saloon  for  light  refreshments, 
and  shortly  afterwards  separated. 


(     15     ) 


FIRST  DAY.— FIRST  SESSION. 
TuESDAV  Morning,  2nd  July. 

niELIMINArvY  MEETING  OF  THE  CONVENTION  AT  THE 
CONGREGATIONAL  MEMORIAL  HALL. 

While  tho  delegates  were  assembling  several  liyiuns  were  sung  witli 
the  assistanee  of  a  small  contingent  of  the  City  of  London  Choir  under 
Mr.  Luther  Ilinton.  The  hymns  included  "  Saviour  King  in  hallowed 
union,"  and  "Let  all  men  praise  the  Lord." 

At  10  o'clock  Lord  Kinnau-d  moved  tliat  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs,  one  of  the 
principal  workers  in  the  United  States,  should  lake  the  chair.  This 
was  put  and  carried  by  acclamation. 

Mr.  L.  F.  Jacobs  {CMca/^o). 

33elovcd  friendu  and  follow-workers,  I  am  sure  this  morning  that 
}uost  of  all  wo  shall  need  the  prcsoneo  and  power  of  God.  Let  us 
Bjiend  a  few  moments  in  worship.  Our  brother  will  kindly  lead  us  iu  a 
song  of  praise. 

The  hymn  "  The  God  of  Abraham  praise  "  was  then  smig  with  much 
heftrtmess. 

Tho  Rev.  B.  "VV.  Chidlaw,  of  Ohio,  was  called  upon,  by  the  Chair- 
man, as  the  oldest  Sunday  school  missionary  in  the  United  States,  to 
lead  them  m  prayer. 

The  Chaieman  then  read  the  145th  Psahn,  makhig  a  brief  con \ men t 
iipou  some  of  the  A-erses. 

The  Rev.  E.  W.  Suaibkks  (London)  then  engaged  iu  prayer,  after 
which  the  hynni,  "  Come  Thou,  Almighty  Xing,"  was  sung. 

The  Chaikmak  having  read  the  1st  chapter  of  the  Epistle  (o  tlio 
Romans,  and  ofi'ered  prayer,  and  tho  meeting  liaAUig  smig,  "  Gracious 
Father  bless,  we  pray,"  he  addressed  the  Convention  as  follows : 
Beloved  brethren  and  Christian  A\orkers,  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for 
this  mark  of  your  kindness  and  confidence,  and  pray  that  God  A\ill 
"ivc  me  grace— and  I  ask  you  to  pray  that  I  may  have  this  grace— to 
discharge  those  duties  for  the  brief  hour  I  sliall  occui)y  this  place,  to 
His  glory  and  our  good. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  the  gathering  of  this  Convention.  We  arc 
met  in  the  fii-st  Convention,  properly  called  a  World's  Convention,  of 
Sunday  school  workers.     We  have  come  from  many  different  parts  of 


IG  The   WorUVs  Sunday  School  Conrontioii. 

tlio  eai'Ui.  We  are  looking  up  to  one  God  and  Saviour,  and  Holy 
Spirit  for  guidance,  and,  brethren,  we  meet  to-day  in  humble  dcpcudeneo 
upon  Him. 

Let  our  eyes  go  to  the  cuds  of  the  earth,  that  we  may  be  able  to 
ascertain  where  the  need  is  and  what  we  can  do  to  supply  the  need. 
Jesus  Christ  was  the  discoverer  of  childhood.  The  child  had  a  very 
little  place  hi  history  before  Christ.  You  may  turn  over  the  pages  of 
that  Bible  for  2000  years  and  you  could  count  all  the  boys  and  girls 
iipon  your  fingers.  It  was  the  Saviour  that  took  an  unknown  child 
and  placed  him  in  the  midst  of  the  disciples,  and  that  cliild  has  been 
in  the  midst  of  history,  and  art,  and  poetry,  and  music,  and  of  the 
Chiu'ch,  and  of  heaven  from  that  day  to  this.  (Cheers.)  Ifc  is  wonder- 
fid,  indeed,  that  upon  such  a  day  of  light  and  privilege  so  long  and 
dark  a  night  should  have  settled.  But  I  would  remind  you  that  it 
is  only  a  little  over  a  hundred  years  ago  that  another  man  in  a  coinitry 
across  the  Channel  here,  in  Germany,  discovered  the  laws  of  the  child's 
mind,  and  has  given  us  very  many  liints  to  guide  us  iu  our  teaching 
work  ;  and  these  two  great  thoughts  shoidd  be  before  us — the  Gospel 
of  Jesi\s  Chi'ist,  the  great  truth  of  rehgion,  and  the  education,  the 
development,  the  building  up  of  the  mind  and  character  of  those  who 
are  committed  to  lis.     It  is  a  wonderfid  work. 

There  is  need  to-day  everywhere  for  the  work ;  God  has  given  us 
great  privileges,  gi-eat  opportunities — the  very  greatest  opportunities 
that  were  ever  given  to  any  man  or  woman  since  the  Lord  of  Glory 
went  back  to  His  home.  We  liave  the  supreme  opportunity  and 
privilege — let  us  pray  that  it  may  be  ours  to  improve  these  oppor- 
tunities. Let  us  pray  that  it  may  be  ours  to  do  that  whicli  God  has 
coimnitted  to  us  in  the  very  best  possible  manner.  I  will  not  take  up 
your  time,  but  only  suggest  to  you  that  every  delegate  in  this  Conven- 
tion bears  an  important  part,  and  each  one  of  us  will  have  some  great 
duty  and  responsibility  given  him  here  and  at  home. 

It  is  necessary  for  us  that  a  few  rvxles  shall  be  put  in  force  for  our 
fruidance,  and  I  am  glad  to  tell  you  that  the  next  session  and  the  future 
sessions  of  this  Convention  will  be  a  little  nearer  tlie  earth  on  which  we 
are  supposed  to  live,  and  not  quite  as  far  towards  the  sky.  (Laughter.) 
We  are  to  meet  tliis  afternoon  and  on  all  the  other  days  and  evenings 
of  this  Convention,  except  Friday  evening,  in  the  City  Temple  (cheers), 
where  the  Kev.  Dr.  Joseph  Parker  usually  preaches.  (Hear,  hear.)  It 
is  a  very  short  distance  from  this  place,  and  will  accommodate  us  all. 
Arrangements  will  be  made  and  stewards  appointed — I  will  say  to  tlio 
American  brothers  that  is  what  we  call  "  ushers."  (Laughter.)  I  will 
ask  that  some  competent  interpreter  be  placed  at  my  side  to  explain  to 
me  Euf'lish  words  I  do  not  quite  understand.  (Laughter.)  It  is  a  very 
important  thing  that  we  irnderstand  the  language  we  are  addi-essiug  to 
each  other. 

A  gentleman,  the  Rev.  Dr.  NewaU,  engaged  in  mission  work  in  Paris, 
was  in  o\u*  company  and  invited  us  to  go  to  Fi-ance  and  hold  ten 


Pndiinutari/  MertliK/.  17 

Suntlay  sdiool  conventions  in  tlie  stati-s  oi-  depai-tnionts,  and  then  conio 
back  to  Paris  for  a  national  meeting.  I  said  :  "  Dear  brotlier,  wc  cannot 
go — wc  cannot  speak  Frencli."  "  It  is  a  nierey  to  God  you  cannot,"  ho 
said;  "if  you  talk  French  as  you  talk  English,  ^\■^i  would  never 
understand  ii  word.  (Laughter.)  But,"  he  added,  "if  you  talk  to 
the  people  and  have  an  interpreter  by  your  side  and  stop  every  thirty 
seconds  while  your  words  are  e.\:plaiued,  we  will  get  out  of  you  all  tliat 
is  most  important,  and  separate  all  the  stuff'  we  don't  need  to  hear." 
(Laughter.) 

So  I  will  ask  for  au  interpreter.  We  will  try  and  have  the  sittings 
in  a  manner  that  will  bring  delegates  from  different  parts  of  the  world 
together,  that  tlie  brethren  may  have  a  chance  to  consult.  It  will 
greatly  facihtate  the  work  of  the  Convention  if  you  will  just  now  let  us 
have  these  blanks  filled  up,  that  all  the  delegates  of  the  Convention  may 
be  em-olled  properly.  Many  of  you  have  received  them,  and  have  them 
filled. 

Suppose  every  one  who  has  not  done  so  takes  a  blank  and  writes  his 
name :  not  tho  initials  only ;  let  us  know  who  you  are.  In  the  next 
place,  the  country  and  post  otlice  address — that  is  to  say,  the  city,  town, 
or  village  where  you  live,  that  if  any  one  should  care  to  write  to  you  or 
send  you  anything  they  may  know  where  you  are. 

In  the  fourtli  place,  whether  you  are  a  pastor,  a  superintendent,  or 
other  oHlcer  of  the  school,  or  a  teacher,  or  if  auy  of  you  from  America 
are  adult  scholars,  for  I  wish  to  say  to  you  that  a  largo  number  of 
scholars  in  American  schools  are  from  twenty-one  years  of  age  up  to 
seventy.  (Cheers.)  We  can  turn  out  whole  classes  of  men  and  women 
from  forty  to  sixty  among  the  very  best  Chi-istiaus  we  have. 

I  am  glad  to  see  we  have  got  more  people  here  than  there  are  blanks. 
Time  we  had.  AVe  have  had  blanks  and  notliing  else.  (Laughter.) 
Please  notify  any  delegates  not  present  of  the  importance  of  this  work. 
You  woidd  regret  receiving  a  publication  of  the  report  of  the  Convention 
and  finding  your  name  is  either  omitted  or  spelt  incorrectly.  They 
say  tlie  glorj'  of  war  is  to  be  shot,  and  after  the  battle  have  your  name 
mis-spelt  the  next  morning.  (Laughter.)  We  will  try  to  provide  for 
a  revision  of  the  enrolment. 

AVe  have  some  few  people  among  us  who  cannot  climb  the  golden 
stair,  but  they  will  be  here  at  the  other  sessions,  and  we  will  get  all  tlie 
names.  I  will  ask  that  these  delegations  from  any  part  of  the  world 
representing  coimtries  or  nationalities  will  agree  upon  one  or  two  names 
perhaps  two  or  three  names,  from  among  yourselves  and  hand  those 
names  to  the  Chairman,  that  in  case  committees  are  desired  we  may 
have  them  hei'c.     It  will  expedite  the  business  of  the  Convcjition. 

On  the  Bothila,  this  matter  was  attended  to  as  far  as  the  230  dele- 
gates from  the  United  States  on  tliat  ship  were  concerned ;  but  there 
were  some  delegations  from  Ohio  and  tiie  Dominions  of  Canada  and 
Kewfoundland.  If  brethren  would  attend  to  that,  it  would  help  them. 
I  knew  Ohio  wa.-*  represented  by  nine  on  the  Bothnia,  but  there  were 


18  Thf   World's  Sunday  School  Convention. 

twenty-one  on  another  sliip,  and  they  might  Hke  to  have  a  voice  in  tlio 
matter.     (Laughter.) 

You  will  notice  next  in  order  upon  the  programme  is  the  address  of 
•welcome  by  our  distingiushed  and  beloved  brother  and  Christian 
wox-ker,  Lord  Kinnahxl.  I  have  great  pleasm-e  in  calling  upon  him, 
(Cheers.) 

ADDEESSES  OF  WELCOME. 
Lord  Kinnairb  {President  of  the  Sunday  School  Union). 

I  am  sm-e  I  shall  be  carrying  out  tlie  wish  of  the  Convention  if, 
before  saying  anytliing  further,  I  state,  what  perhaps  many  of  you 
know,  that  oiu'  beloved  friend — and  I  believe  he  is  as  much  beloved 
out  of  England  as  in  it — George  Williams,  has  had  a  very  sore  and 
sad  bereavement ;  he  has  lost  a  beloved  daughter — I  think  it  is  his 
only  daughter — one  who  with  his  beloved  wife  has  travelled  with 
him,  in  most  of  the  jom-neys  he  has  taken  in  the  service  of  Grod,  and 
for  the  good  of  men.  She  has  been  taken  away  very  suddenly  by 
diphtheria.  You  know  what  a  warm  heart  he  has,  and  how  he  must 
feel  this.  And  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  doing  what  you  would  wish  if  I 
ask  the  Secretary  to  prepare  a  vote  of  condolence  to  be  conveyed  to 
him.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  know  I  may  take  yoiu'  silence  as  giving  con- 
sent. (Hear,  hear.)  We  shall  bear  him  up  in  om*  hearts,  and  we  pray 
that  God  will  be  with  liim.  As  a  past  President  of  the  Smiday 
School  Union,  he  wovdd  have  been  at  all  our  meetmgs,  I  am  convmced. 
I  will  ask  the  Chairman  to  sign  the  vote  of  condolence  and  transmit  it 
to  Mr.  George  Williams.     (Hear  hear.) 

It  is  now  ray  pleasing  duty,  as  President  tliis  year  of  the  Sunday 
School  Union,  to  oflfer  a  most  hearty  welcome  to  om*  bretlu-en  who 
have  come  from  all  over  the  world.  (Cheers.)  As  this  is  known  as 
"  The  World's  Convention,"  we  welcome  oiu-  brethren  without  regard 
as  to  who  are  to  be  first  in  tliis  work  or  who  are  to  be  last ;  the  last 
shall  be  fii'st  and  the  fii'st  last :  that  is  to  say,  we  are  all  equal  because 
all  one  in  a  common  and  blessed  effort. 

1  will  not  name  the  diiibrent  comitries  represented,  because  the  list 
is  too  long.  I  belie\e  we  have  represeutatiA-es  from  every  country  aiul 
of  almost  every  nationality.  On  this  side  of  the  water  we  have  been 
lookuig  forward  to  this  Convention  for  a  long  time.  Prayer  has  been 
going  up  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  countiy,  and  we 
have  thus  been  in  touch  with  the  brethi-en  all  over  the  globe. 

We  are  a  practical  Convention,  and  we  are  met  for  business  pm-poses. 
We  have  a  common  cause  and  a  common  name,  and  we  all  come  to- 
gether irrespective  of  our  nationality,  sect,  or  denomination.  It  woidd 
be  somewhat  difficidt  here  to  find  out  oiu"  dift'erences,  and  we  do  not  want 
to  find  them  out.  (Hear,  hear.)  We  do  not  intend  to  tabulate  on 
any  paper  the  denomination  we  belong  to.  (Cheers.)  It  reminds  mc 
of  a  gentleman  on  the  platform  here,  who  was  on  a  certain  committee 


Add icaai'ii  <>f    Wclroiin'.  19 

with  a  number  of  Epi&copaliaus  and  members  of  othci"  deuomiiiatioiis. 
Oue  said  to  liim,  "  Brother,  whom  do  you  repi'csent  ?  "  He  said,  "  I  am 
not  quite  certain,  but  I  thuik,  if  you  send  over  to  the  London  City 
Mission,  they  would  tell  you  whether  I  am  an  Episcopalian  or  u  Non- 
conformist." (Laughter.)  He  is,  I  suspect,  one  of  those  who  beUeve  in 
Cln-istiauity  first  and  churchianity  afterwards.  What  we  aim  at  abo\e 
all  things  is  to  bring  the  children  to  Christ ;  they  will  then  find  tlieir 
own  way  into  the  church.  There  is  one  common  danger  which  was  re- 
fen-edto  last  night ;  I  do  not  know  whether  it  exists  in  Australia,  I  know 
it  exists  on  the  Contuient,  and  I  beheve  many  in  America  and  Canada 
tire  finding  it  out.  We  have  got  to  rally  roimd  the  old-fashioned  Sunday. 
(Cheers.)  A  good  many  of  you  did  not  get  here  last  Sunday.  You 
spent  it  in  Liverpool,  and  I  believe  you  had  a  very  happy  Sunday.  I 
would  like  to  know  the  private  opuiiou  of  some  of  you  after  the  next 
Simday  you  have  had  here,  whether  it  strikes  you  that  we  have  gone 
backward  on  the  Sunday  question  in  the  last  ten  or  twenty  years. 
We  on  the  spot  cannot  altogether  see,  but  some  of  us  think  there  are 
indications  that  our  Simday  has  been  encroached  upon.  If  it  is  so, 
I  think  it  is  time  we  rallied  together,  and  said,  "  We  are  not  going 
to  have  om*  Sunday  taken  away."  (Cheers.)  You  m  America  have 
been  having  some  very  serious  talks  about  it,  and  you  are  going  to 
take  care  that  your  Simday  is  not  taken  away.  If  we  are  to  keep 
cm-  Simday,  it  must  be  by  showing  the  childi-en  what  a  boon  it  is,  and 
will  eventuallv  be  to  them,  and  by  impressing  on  them  the  necessity  of 
keeping  a  tight  hold  of  this  precious  privilege,  lest  it  be  lost  or 
exchanged  for  all  the  frivoUties  of  a  Continental  Sunday.  Let  us  rally 
round  this  sacred  cause.  The  Sabbath  is  the  Lord's  Day ;  but  we 
recognize  it  was  made  for  man,  and  that  it  is  a  matter  of  supreme 
importance  to  the  working  classes  that  they  have  their  day  of  rest. 
Well-to-do  i)eoplc  can  take  care  of  themselves  in  this  matter. 

I  heard  a  good  story  on  that  point.  There  was  a  man  in  Scotland, 
a  shareholder  in  a  certam  company,  who  was  trying  to  increase  the 
ihvidends  by  iucreased  Smiday  traffic,  lu-ging  that  it  woidd  be  a  great 
tiling  fur  the  working  man  to  be  taken  out  to  the  beautiful  fields  and 
waterfalls — how  it  woidd  elevate  them  and  all  the  rest  of  it.  An  oil 
Scotclmian  present  took  out  his  Bible,  and  read  tlds  text :  "  This  he 
said,  not  that  he  cared  for  tlie  poor,  but  because  he  was  a  thief,  and 
had  the  bag  and  bare  what  was  put  therein  "  (loud  cheers).  He  thought 
the  poor  woidd  not  wish  to  be  taken  a  long  thii-ty  or  forty  miles' 
journey  at  the  expense  of  other  people's  Sunday.  And  it  will  be  a  bad 
day  for  Sunday  schools  if  the  Paris  or  Continental  Simday,  as  we  call  it, 
ehoidd  get  into  Old  England  or  Scotland.     (Hear,  heai\) 

May  I  :iow  say  on  behalf  of  the  London  Connnittee  how  cordially 
we  welcome  you  and  rejoice  in  this  gathering.  I  beheve  the  journey 
of  oiu"  fi-iends  who  came  over  in  the  Bothnia  will  be  a  jiractical  sermon. 
Why  ?  Because  it  is  the  first  time  that  a  steamer  has  been  engaged  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  by  men  who  came  for  the  special  purjwse  of  manifest- 

c  2 


20  Tlie   WorlcVs  Sunday  School  Convention. 

ing  their  iiilcivst  in  young  people  and  in  .Sunday  sehools.  (Cliecrs.) 
I  do  hope  that  at  this  Convention  there  will  be  a  fresh  consecration 
of  each  one  of  tis.  We  want  this  to  be  a  meeting  of  consecrated  men 
and  women  actuated  by  one  motive — the  bm-ning  desu-e  to  bring 
Christ  to  the  chilch-en  and  the  children  to  Christ. 

Unless  we  get  the  children  before  they  are  fifteen  years  old  it  is  a 
very  difficult  task  to  get  them  after.  And  unless  we  can  teach  the 
young  people  the  Word  of  God  before  they  are  one-and-twenty,  they 
will  be  of  very  little  use  to  the  church  of  God  during  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  There  are  plenty  of  people  who  will  never  be  any  good  in  the 
cause  of  Clu-ist,  because  they  have  not  served  an  apprenticeship  to  it. 
May  God  bless  us.  May  we  occiipy  till  the  Master  comes.  A^^o 
welcome  you  here,  and  trust  you  will  impart  to  us  some  of  your 
enthusiasm  and  some  of  your  ideas.  And  in  this  Convention  let  us 
never,  from  the  beginning  to  the  close,  forget  that  we  meet  together  to 
do  honour  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.     (Cheers.) 


Me.  F.  F.  Belset  {Chairman  of  the  Sunclai/  School  Union  Committee). 

It  is,  I  believe,  my  duty  and  pleasure  as  Chau'man  of  the  Convention 
Conmiittee  to  add  a  few  words  of  hearty  welcome  to  those  so  fitly 
spoken  by  our  noble  president.  If  you  and  yoiu*  party  from  the 
Bothnia  had  landed  and  been  received  on  the  western  shores  of  our 
island,  you  woidd  have  found  a  language  in  use  there  rather  more 
difficult  to  comprehend  than  that  of  which  you  complain  this  morning. 
I  may  say,  in  quoting  the  phrase  I  want  to  refer  to,  that  you  woidd 
probably  have  found  it  decorating  the  walls  on  an  occasion  of  this 
kind.  I  will  not  attempt  its  pronunciation,  but  I  will  ti-anslate  the 
words,  which  would  have  read,  "  One  hundred  thousand  welcomes." 
I  am  glad  that  Lord  Kinnau'd  and  I  can  stand  here  representing  the 
London  Sunday  School  Union  and  can  voice  the  thoughts  and  feelings 
of  the  adult  Sunday  school  teachers  of  our  country,  and  we  can  bid 
you  500,000  welcomes.  If  to  these  we  add  the  sweet  trebles  of  our 
children,  there  are  more  than  five  million  notes  of  welcome  ;  all  these 
we  give,  asking  you  to  accept  them  in  then.-  fulness  and  depth.  We 
delight  to  find  so  great  a  gathering  on  such  an  occasion,  and  I  cannot 
help  thinkmg  that  we  can,  in  this  age  when  all  things  are  bemg  ques- 
tioned, quote  a  Divine  authorisation  for  such  an  assembly  as  this ; 
those  gi'and  old  conventions  of  Israel  three  times  a  year,  when  all  the 
tribes  went  up  to  Jerusalem,  foreshadowing  that  gi-eat  Convention 
foretold  by  Zechariah,  when  all  nations  shall  go  iip  together,  imder  the 
penalty  of  Jehovah's  curse,  at  His  command,  to  give  Him  praise.  We 
feel  that  we  are  carrying  out  here  a  Divine  idea  and  pm-pose. 

If  I  may  pass  from  Divine  inspiration  to  those  memorable  words  of 
a  great  warrior,  "  Veni,  Vidi,  Vici,"  I  may  remind  you  that  from  coming 
he  went  on  to  seeing  and  conquering.  We  have  come,  and  we  want  to 
see  and  to  conquer.     First  of  all,  to  see  ovir  Master  here  amongst  us 


Acldresscti  of  Wilromc.  21 

with  the  eye  ol' faith,  uith  the  httio  cues  ui-ouiid  Hiiu  and  His  hands 
lifted  up  in  blessing,  and  pointing  us  to  ehildhood  as  tlie  most  hopeful 
Held  on  which  to  sow  tlie  Gospel  seed.  We  have  come  to  see  each 
other  and  to  grasp  liands  separated  in  toil  by  thousands  of  miles  of 
distance  ;  and  beyond  all  this  we  want  to  see  our  difficulties  together, 
and  together  to  look  at  our  plans,  and  to  look  at  tliosc  broad  fields 
which  still  uivite  the  labour  of  the  Sunday  scliool  teacher,  and,  having 
seen,  we  want  to  conquer.  We  want  to  go  forth  from  this  great  oppor- 
tunity of  viewing  togctlier  tliese  diillcuUies,  in  the  power  of  tlic  Holy 
Spirit  to  concpier  them,  to  occupy  these  fields,  and  win  the  youth  of 
our  world  for  Christ. 

First  of  all,  let  me  extend  the  hand  of  welcome  to  our  American 
brethren  whom  it  was  a  few  hom-s  ago  my  privilege  to  receive  on  the 
dock  at  Liverpool.  We  give  you  the  heartiest  of  welcomes.  We  are 
glad  the  boat  was  a  Httle  slow ;  you  have  been  insulated,  and  we  trust 
the  electricity  has  been  accumulating ;  cut  off  from  the  influence  of  the 
world  and  society,  you  have  been  thrown  together,  and  we  trust  you 
are  coming  here  to  discharge  that  electric  force  a)ul  give  us  the  influence 
coming  from  utterances  charged  therewith.  We  are  glad  to  see  amongst 
you  such  veterans  as  our  old  fi-iend  in  the  chair ;  he  always  has  plenty 
of  electricity  about  him,  whQe  that  other  old  veteran  in  the  corner 
(Rev.  B.  W.  Chidlaw)  is  the  most  family  man  in  this  hall,  for  5U0 
Sunday  schools  call  liim  father. 

Is  it  not  delightful  to  see  rrauce  and  Gremiany  Hnkiug  hands  here? 
Here  they  are  cue  in  Christ  and  one  for  Him  ?  And  we  are  hoping  as 
they  go  back  to  theu-  work  on  the  Continent  the  sowing  of  this  Gospel 
seed  will  help  these  nations  to  grasp  in  tender  forgiveness  each  other's 
liand  and  live  in  harmony  and  peace  for  ages.  I  do  not  know  any- 
thing about  the  order  in  which  we  should  put  folks  on  this  occasion ; 
but  I  thmk  really  the  next  group  ought  to  have  come  first,  as  they 
are  the  subjects  of  our  own  beloved  Queen.  Our  colonial  friends,  I 
am  delighted  to  welcome  you.  Tjien,  more,  we  are  dehghted  to  welcome 
friends  representing  not  only  the  native  chm-ches  in  heathen  lands,  but 
tiie  I'epresentatives  of  many  of  our  missionary  societies. 

If  there  is  one  thing  we  hope  more  than  another,  if  tliere  is  one 
result  we  hope  this  Convention  will  obtaui,  it  is  the  planting  of  Sunday 
schools,  after  the  English  and  American  fashion,  side  by  side  with  the 
native  Cluu-ches  in  heathen  lands,  that  those  converts  who  have  pro- 
fessed Chi-istianity  may,  having  to  take  up  the  work  of  teaching  Christ, 
learn  more  of  His  Word  and  truth,  that  so  they  themselves  may  enjoy 
the  blessing  we  as  Sunday  school  teachers  have  enjoyed  in  this  country, 
in  teachuig  others  themselves  to  be  taught,  and  be  strengthened  for 
Christian  profession  amongst  the  many  temptations  of  heathendom. 

Now,  let  me  bring  my  words  of  welcome  to  a  close.  We  are  a  com- 
mercial people.  We  have  had  fiscal  conferences  and  so  on,  and  looking 
at  free  trade  and  all  its  teaching  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  is  a  very  hap]iy  thing  for  this  countiy  that  its  imports  exceed  its 


22  The   WurlrTs  SanfUu/  Srltool  Convention. 

exports.  I  hope  that  gir:it  ])niiL-iplc  will  be  still  maintained  amongst 
us  here  and  that  it  will  be  our  joy  and  pleasure  when  we  total  up  the 
results  of  this  Convention  to  find  that  our  Englisli  Sunday  schools 
liave  gathered  more  hope  and  blessing,  and  that  we  shall  have  to  say 
Tliauk  Q-od,  our  imports  have  exceeded  our  exports. 


EEPLIES  TO  ADDEESSES  OF  WELCOME. 
Eev.  Dr.  John  Hall  {Kew  York). 

1  have  only  cotne  in  during  the  last  two  or  three  miiiutes,  and  did 
not  expect  the  honour  you  have  conferred  upou  me.  I  do  not  know 
■whether  I  belong  to  the  imports  or  to  the  exports,  but  I  know  that  it 
is  a  very  great  pleasure  for  me  to  be  here  and  to  meet  so  many  earnest 
fellow-labom-ers  in  this  noble  work.  I  cau  only  say,  before  sitting 
down,  that  I  hope,  as  the  greatest  blessing  we  cau  have  here,  that  we 
shall  reahze  the  presence,  help,  guidance,  and  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
without  whose  power  workmg  in  us  and  through  us,  one  by  one,  and 
as  a  Convention,  we  must  be  comparatively  helpless  and  iiseless.  Let 
us  look  for  the  Divine  Spirit  that  He  may  direct  us  in  everything  Ave 
have  to  do. 

Dr.  Hall  then,  at  the  request  of  the  Chau'mnu,  led  ilie  uieeMug  in 
prayer  for  a  sjiecial  blessing  on  the  Convention. 

EeT,  De.   ClTTLEE   {Urooli'hin). 

It  would  be  much  more  natural  for  all  of  us,  in  addressing  j'ouv 
lordship,  just  to  dismiss  all  the  ofllcial  title,  because  we  want  to  regard 
you  as  our  beloved  brother  Ivinuaird.  On  behalf  of  America,  I  thank 
you  and  our  dear  brother  Belsey  for  tlie  welcome  you  liave  given  us, 
I  do  not  doubt  that  it  comes  from  your  warm  hearts,  and  also  from 
that  great,  big  British  heart  that  tlu'obs,  this  morning,  behind  you. 

AVe  Yankees  are  not  strangers  here.  We  have  only  come  back 
simply  to  greet  our  kith  and  kindred  in  the  dear  old  homestead.  We 
are  all  at  home  here.  We  go  into  the  Chapter  House  at  Westminster, 
and  see  the  place  where  our  Saxon  ancestors  rest.  We  love  to  linger 
in  the  old  burial  groimd,  where  our  fathers  sleep  ;  beside  them  Bunyan 
and  Watson  yonder  in  Bunhill  Fields  ;  and  across  the  way  where  the 
dead  hands  of  John  and  Charles  Wesley  are  still  ringing  ten  thousand 
Methodist  church  bells  around  the  globe.  On  the  embankment  we 
stand  before  the  statue  of  Eaikes,  the  father  of  Sunday  schools. 

Brother  Kinnau'd,  we  all  uncover  before  the  glorious  memory  of 
that  king  of  modern  philantlu-opists,  the  glorified  Shaftesbuiy.  We 
Americans  live  in  a  pretty  large  country,  with  some  very  large  ideas. 
They  say  that  some  of  our  trees  in  California  requu-e  two  men  to  see 
to  the  top  of  them.     But,  when  we  come  here,  we  come  to  a  city  that 


licsponsc  1(1    WelctDiir.  23 

is  tlio  most  WDiKlfi-riil  of  nil  rilios  (lit^  world  ovoi-  s.iu  :  a  r'liy  (lia(, 
would  coiitsiiu  Isew  York,  I'hikidclpliia,  Cliicatjo,  and  other  Amerifaii 
cities,  -with  something  of  a  margin  left.  Standing  in  the  midst  of  tliw 
meti'opolis  of  the  world,  we  feel  how  stupendous  is  the  problem  of  the 
lionr  : — How  to  win  for  Christ,  how  to  capture,  the  city  that  rules 
the  countries  which  rule  the  world !  And  who  is  to  have  this  groat  city 
Christ  or  Satan?  "We  have  to  face  these  problems.  The  Clu'istiau 
wlio  shuts  liis  eyes  to  the  tremendous  perils  of  this  hour  is  a  fool.  The 
Cliristian  that  will  not  fivce  them  on  behalf  of  his  Master  is  a  coward. 
"We  have  got  two  ideas  to  present  for  meeting  these  problems  : 

First  of  all,  we  can  only  save  the  world  by  saving  the  children.  If 
you  save  the  children,  you  save  this  country,  and  win  it  for  Christ. 
"We  in  America  have  done  a  gi-eat  deal  in  Sunday  school  work.  Some 
years  ago,  we  thought  we  were  somewhat  ahead  of  you  in  England  : 
but,  after  all,  I  am  not  certain  of  that.  While  we  arc  justly  proxid  of 
oiu-  magnificent  Sunday  schools  at  Bethany,  we  come  over  here  and  see 
schools  of  which  you  need  not  be  ashamed.  You,  in  England,  combine 
American  dash  with  English  system.  I 

In  America,  the  motto  is,  "  Go-ahead  I "  In  England,  the  watch, 
word  is,  "  All  right  I "  "With  the  American  go-ahead  and  the  English 
all  right,  you  have  got  the  right  principle,  carrying  out  which  you  may 
conquer  this  world  for  Christ.  The  other  thought  is,  oneness  in  the 
one  adorable  Master,  for  the  one  glorious  purpose  for  which  He  shed 
His  precious  blood.  He  came  to  seek  and  save  the  lost.  A  great  deal 
lias  been  written  about  the  unity  of  dcnomuiations.  I  believe  in  de- 
nominations on  this  earth.  But  the  great  idea,  after  all,  is  tliat  members 
of  the  family  of  Clod  should  love  one  another,  no  niatter  wiiat  the 
denomination  with  which  they  may  be  identified. 

In  such  a  work  as  this  in  which  we  ai-e  engaged,  denominationalism 
is  of  no  more  account  than  the  colour  of  your  eye  or  the  height  of  your 
stature.  What  is  the  good  of  talking  everlastingly  about  miity. 
There  is  an  innnense  amount  of  breath  wasted  in  talk  of  that  kind. 
Tile  only  way  to  get  at  iniity  is  just  to  practise  it  in  Christian  work. 
Horses  unharnessed  will  soon  fall  to  biting  and  kicking  one  another. 
Harnessed,  and  with  a  good  load  to  pidl,  they  will  pull  together. 

When  Christians  happen  to  have  nothing  particular  to  do,  they  will 
commence  a  controversy.  "When  at  work  they  are  too  busy  to  fall  out 
by  the  way.  There  is  a  controversy  going  on  now — whether  we  have 
got  any  Bible  or  not.  Let  this  CoJivention  stand  for  the  infallible 
Word,  and  for  evei-v  jot  and  tittle.  Let  us  take  our  stand  for  the 
glorious  old  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  "Word  of  God  as  the 
supreme  and  infallible  rule  of  faith,  for  the  dear  old  precious  doctrine 
of  the  blood  of  the  crucified  Saviour  atoning  for  sin  and  providing  a 
passport  to  heaven.  So  let  lis  be  one,  that  our  liearts  may  beat 
togetlier. 

I  give  you  a  motto  for  this  Convention.  Dear  brothers  Einnaii'd  and 
Belsey,  we  rejoice  to  meet  so  many  Christians  of  dear  old  England 


24  The   World's  Sandaij  School  Convention. 

assembled  at  this  World's  Sunday  iSchuul  Conventiun.  Representatives 
are  here  from  America,  Australia,  and  the  new-born  nations.  Irishmen 
are  here  from  behind  the  ramparts  of  Derry.  "VVclshmeu  are  here  from 
tlie  land  of  Christmas  Evans,  of  Howell,  and  Harries.  Scotsmen  are  here 
from  tliat  land  whose  every  loch  is  a  poem,  and  "whose  every  mountain 
is  ii  Covenanter's  home.  Our  Continental  brethren  ai-e  here  from  the 
land  of  Luther  and  Christlieb,  from  the  land  of  Coligne  and  Pi'essense, 
from  the  land  of  Calvin  and  Zwingle  and  D'Anbigne,  and  the  land  of 
William  the  Silent.  Now,  let  us  form  a  sweet  compact,  and  run  up 
this  motto  :  Union  in  Cheist  poe  a  Woeld  withoitt  Cueist." 

The  Chaieman  :  We  must  be  permitted  to  hear  how  they  arc  getting 
on  in  Germany  from  Coimt  Bernstorif,  whose  uo  less  distinguished  son 
occupies  a  prominent  place  in  his  own  Government.  I  was  going  to  ask 
the  delegate  from  Trance  to  step  up  and  take  his  hand  for  a  minute. 

The  spectacle  of  French  and  German  delegates  clasping  hands  on  the 
platform  was  hailed  with  prolonged  applause. 


Count  BEENSTOEPr  (Berlin). 

It  is  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to  be  able  to  express  my  lieartfelt 
tlianks  for  the  kind  reception  given  to  us.  We  have  been  lookhig  for- 
wards to  this  Convention,  and  hope  it  will  be  a  great  blessing  to  the 
cause  of  Sunday  schools  aU  over  the  world.  I  am  sorry  to  see  that 
the  Continent  of  Europe  is  not  represented  by  so  lai'ge  a  number  of 
delegates  as  America ;  but  the  Americans  have  greater  facilities  for 
travellmg  than  we  have,  and  beyond  that  they  hear  their  own  language 
here,  and  can  be  understood.  Many  of  our  friends  on  the  Continent, 
while  they  speak  many  different  languages,  do  iiot  speak  English,  and 
they  feel  they  might  be  misunderstood  if  they  did  not  speak  English. 
Seeing  the  great  number  of  delegates  fi-om  the  United  States  gives  me 
one  great  hope.  In  the  States,  Sunday  schools  have  existed  for  one 
hundred  years  ;  in  Europe  they  liavc  only  been  twenty-five  years  ; 
but  I  hope,  if  there  should  be  another  Convention  seventy-five  years 
hence,  Eiu'ope  will  also  send  a  gi-eater  number  of  delegates  than  is 
the  case  at  present. 

I  do  not  know  whether  personally  I  like  the  word  Continent.  You, 
dear  English  friends,  put  us  all  into  the  Continent,  into  one  large 
bag,  and  yet  there  are  a  great  many  differences,  many  different  nations. 
Eor  instance,  I  cannot  deny  that  I  feel  greater  national  sympathies 
when  I  go  beyond  the  "  silver  streak,"  or  beyond  the  Atlantic,  than 
when  I  go  to  some  coimtries  that  are  nearer  to  us. 

There  is,  however,  one  great  idea  in  the  word  Continent,  that  which 
holds  together.  I  think  the  cause  of  Gospel  and  religious  teaching, 
teaching  people  and  children,  ought  to  hold  together  the  whole  Conti- 
nent of  Europe  and  Christian  people  all  over  the  world.     I  am  able  to 


licf!2'^nsc  lo    Wclcumc.  25 

t^pcuk  lor  the  Coiitiiiciit  and  Europe,  for  I  have  visituil  Suutlay  schools 
ill  several  countries  of  it.  I  shall  never  forget  the  ha)ipy  hours  I  spent 
in  Paris  in  1887,  and  I  remember  visiting  St.  Cloud  with  the  liajipv 
eliildi-en.  I  have  visited  Sunday  schools  in  Spain,  and  I  know  what 
help  tliey  are  for  the  refoi'mation  of  Spain.  But  even  there  great 
dillieulties  are  pnt  in  the  way,  yet  tlie  schools  have  a  liold  on  the  hearts 
of  many  of  tlie  children.  On  my  first  visit  I  was  told  that  a  lloiuan 
C'atliolic  lady  made  great  eflbrts  to  prevent  children  going  to  the  Sunday 
seliools  by  offering  them  cakes  and  entertainment  in  tlie  afternoon. 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  children  preferred  the  Siuiday  school.  I 
have  been  able  to  visit  the  Sunday  school  of  the  Waldensians,  where  I 
saw  M.  Pochet,  who  told  me  that  the  Sunday  school  was  a  great  help 
to  the  Gospel,  and  he  also  told  me  the  stoiy  of  a  boy  whose  mother  did 
not  wish  liim  to  go  to  the  Sunday  School,  but  he  went.  The  nest  time 
lie  attended  he  received  a  good  flogging,  but  he  went  back  and  preferred 
the  Sunday  school  and  the  flogging  to  staying  away. 

I  know  the  help  Sunday  schools  have  been  to  t!ie  cause  of  Christiauitj' 
in  other  countries,  and  have  seen  the  blessing  of  Sunday  schools  in 
Switzerland,  Sweden,  and  Norway,  and  I  have  recently  heard  of  a  new 
one  behig  started  in  St.  Petersburg.  I  should  like  to  speak  not  so 
much  as  a  delegate  as  one  who  stands  himself  in  the  work.  It  is  a 
)nost  blessed  tiling  to  stand  practically  in  Sunday  school  work. 

There  is  a  memorable  day  in  my  life  this  year,  the  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  fii-st  day  I  entered  a  Sunday  school  as  a  teacher.  My 
teachers  presented  me  with  a  Bible  with  the  dates  186-4 — 1889  in  it. 
I  mention  this  because  I  consider  it  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  blessings 
to  be  able  to  work  in  Sunday  schools.  I  was  only  twenty  when  I  began 
to  teach.  I  might  have  begun  earlier,  but  it  was  only  then  that 
Mr.  Woodruff  came  and  showed  us  how  to  do  practical  work. 

Sunday  schools  are  working  out  great  principles  in  religious  life — one 
the  principle  of  a  Sunday.  You  in  England  and  the  United  States  are 
defending  your  Sunday,  and  I  hope  you  will  continue  to  do  so.  We  on 
the  Continent  are  not  defending  our  Sunday,  we  are  tryhig  to  conquer 
it ;  we  want  to  have  a  Sunday,  and  it  is  tlie  Sunday  school  work  which 
does  a  great  deal  in  this  respect,  because  it  gives  the  Christian  regular 
occupation  for  the  Sunday  and  teaches  children  to  lore  Sunday.  The 
other  principle  is  that  of  voluntary  work. 

We  have,  in  Germany,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  Continent,  been 
used  to  leaving  duties  to  be  done  by  those  who  were  called  to  them — 
political  duties  to  the  Government,  and  religious  duties  to  the  pastors 
and  Chiu-ch  govemment.  That  would  be  very  well  if  they  did  their 
duty,  and  they  ought  to  do  it ;  but  it  is  better  for  all  the  people  to  stand 
up  for  then*  Master  together.  The  religious  work  requires  training,  and 
we  think  the  Sunday  school  is  excellent  training,  and  many  who  com- 
mence as  teachers  go  on  to  do  other  reUgious  work  after  that,  so  the 
Simday  school  has  been  in  these  two  things  a  vevj  valuable  help  to  us, 
and  I  hope  through  God's  blessing  it  will  be  so  more  and  moi-e. 


26  The    World's  Sunday  School  Convention. 

MONSIHUR  L.  S.vrTTi:u  (Paris),  on  coining  forxvard  to  respond,  was 
lieai'tily  welcomed  by  the  Chainnan,  who  shook  liiui  cordially  by  the 
hand,  with  the  remark  :  I  have  great  pleasure,  Monsieur  Sautter, 
Chairman  of  the  Paris  Committee  of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  in 
taking  yonr  hand. 

MONS.  L.  Sauttee  then  said :  I  wish  to  repeat  before  yon  the 
words  which  I  have  just  had  the  pleasure  of  saying  to  Count  BernsturfT 
while  shakhig  hands  with  him.  I  am  happy  to  feel  that  I  am  in 
perfect  sympathy  with  him  and  witli  his  countrymen,  on  the  ground 
of  Christian  and  Sunday  school  work,  the  love  of  Christ,  and  the  love 
of  souls.  The  only  source  of  peace  between  God  and  man  is  also  the 
only  som-ce  of  peace  and  true  friendship  between  men  and  their 
fellows.  May  it  soon  bring  perfect  friendship  and  harmony  among  the 
nations  of  the  world. 

In  consequence  of  the  sudden  illness  of  Pastor  Paumier,  President  of 
the  Erencli  Sunday  School  Association,  the  unexpected  honour  has 
devolved  upon  me  of  addressing  you  this  morning,  and  of  responding 
to  your  kind  and  hearty  welcome.  I  beg  you  to  excuse  me  if  I  do  it  in 
imperfect  English  and  with  insufficient  preparation. 

I  want  first  to  express  in  the  name  of  Pastor  Paumier  his  deep  regret 
at  not  being  able  to  take  part  in  this  Convention  as  he  intended, 
and  would  have  rejoiced  to  do.  Since  the  very  beginnuig  of  our  asso- 
ciation, and  during  thirty-six  years,  he  has  been  first  secretary,  then 
president,  and  always  an  active  member  of  the  society.  He  assisted  at 
several  Conventions  held  in  London,  and  is  known  to  many  persons  in 
tins  audience. 

;  Though  a  new  member  of  our  French  con;mittee,  and  nearly  a 
stranger,  I  am  a  great  friend  of  Sunday  schools,  and  I  thank  God  that, 
in  the  course  of  a  somewhat  active  business  career,  I  have  always  been 
able  to  devote  to  this  work  a  small  portion  of  my  time,  a  much  larger 
part  of  my  thoughts,  my  heart,  and  my  prayers.  Whether  I  have  been 
able  to  do  some  good  I  do  not  know,  but  I  am  sure  that  I  have  received 
a  great  deal  of  good  ;  and  now  having  the  honoiir  and  the  privilege  of 
repi'esentmg  at  this  Convention,  along  with  my  friends,  M.  Matthieu 
Le'lievre  and  M.  Greig,  the  Sunday  School  Union  of  France,  I  still 
expect  to  receive  much  more  than  I  shall  be  able  to  give. 

I  have  already  felt  yesterday  evening  and  this  morning  comforted 
encouraged,,  and  rejoiced,  on  seeing  such  a  gathering  of  devoted  servants 
of  the  Lord  engaged  in  the  religious  training  of  the  young,  and  coming 
from  all  parts  of  the  world  in  order  to  communicate  with  each  other,  to 
compare,  to  improve  their  methods,  their  experiments,  and  then-  efforts, 
all  out  of  love  of  the  cliildren,  and  for  the  love  of  Clu-ist, 

Wliat  we  have  done,  what  we  are  doing,  in  France  in  the  way  of  Sun- 
day schools  is  very  little  when  compared  with  what  is  done  in  Great 
Britain  and  in  the  United  States  of  America.  In  that  work  you  liave 
been  our  teachers,  the  helpers,  and  yoii  are  stni  our  models.     Neverthe- 


lieajntiisc   in    Wclcuhic.  27 

loss,  we  liiivo  to  lliauk  God  for  tlio  great  iniproveuiciila  realized  since 
the  foundivtiou  of  our  society  thirty-six  years  ago.  Some  of  you  per- 
liaps  remember  its  origin,  and  I  am  sure  the  name  of  its  founder,  and 
during  many  years  most  devoted,  active,  and  intelligent  worker,  tlie 
name  of  Paul  Cook  is  not  yet  forgotten  in  this  country. 

The  first  public  meeting  was  hekl  in  Paris  in  April,  1853.  Tliere 
existed  thirteen  Suuday  schools  in  Paris,  and  130  in  the  whole  of 
France,  and  the  yearly  expenses  of  the  Society  were  only  1200  francs. 
A  small  magazine  was  published  under  the  dh-ection  of  M.  Cook,  and 
found  witli  great  difficulty  some  300  subscribers.  Ten  years  later,  viz., 
in  18G2,  the  number  of  Sunday  schools  has  increased  to  thu-ty-six  in 
Paris,  and  to  527  in  the  whole  country.  A  number  of  special  books  for 
the  use  of  the  schools  has  been  issued,  and  the  budget  raised  to  20,000 
francs  a  year.  Wc  have  actually  over  100  schools  in  Paris,  and  1300 
in  France. 

Far  from  tliinking  that  our  work  as  a  Society  for  ])romoting  and 
helping  Sunday  schools  in  France  has  come  to  an  end,  we  consider  that 
it  has  never  been  more  useful  nor  more  indispensable  than  it  is  now  ; 
and  that  for  two  reasons.  The  fii'st  is,  new  laws  on  education  are 
now  in  vigoi'ous  operation  in  France.  According  to  these  laws,  instruc- 
tion has  been  made  gratuitous,  "  laique"  (secular),  and  obhgatory.  The 
word  "  laique  "  means  that  no  sort  of  religious  instruction  will,  nor  even 
can,  be  given  in  the  public  school.  Not  only  do  the  children  receive  no 
official  teaching  (which  I  consider  a  good  thmg,  having  regard  to  the 
state  of  the  public  mmd  and  the  religious  divisions  of  oiu-  counti-y),  but 
the  entrance  of  the  school  is  positively  prohibited  to  the  ministers  of 
every  church  and  to  any  kind  of  religious  instruction,  even  if  the 
parents  expressly  ask  for  it.  That  soi-t  of  instruction  must  be  given  out 
<tf  the  scliool,  and  during  two  days  of  the  week.  Sundays  and  Thurs- 
days are  set  apart  for  it. 

As  among  tlie  families  of  workmen,  very  few  parents  have  requisite 
knowledge  for  becoming  the  religious  instructors  of  their  children,  the 
church  has  to  take  hold  of  them  by  means  of  the  Sunday  and  of  the 
Thursday  schools.  Shoidd  the  church  fail  in  that  duty,  we  must 
apprehend  the  dreadful  prospect  of  a  young  Protestant  generation 
absorbed  in  many  cases  in  the  Catholic  and  infidel  masses,  or  growing 
up  without  any  religious  instruction  of  any  kind.  "What  a  respousibihty 
for  the  churches  and  for  all  Clu'istian  workers  !  I  hasten  to  say  that 
they  seem  to  feel  it  intensely,  and  that  gi-eat  efforts  are  being  made 
everywhei'e  by  the  churches  of  all  denominations  for  the  unprovement 
of  Sunday  schools  and  the  establishment  of  Thursday  schools. 

The  other  reason  which  imparts  great  importance  to  our  work  is  the 
development  of  popidar  evangelization.  The  name  of  M.  McAll,  asso- 
ciated with  the  mission  work  founded  by  hun  in  France  seventeen 
years  ago,  is,  I  am  sure,  known,  and  resj^ected,  and  beloved  by,  perhaps, 
every  person  iu  this  assembly.  The  interest  of  both  England  and 
America  in  that  work  is  manifested  by  the  sending  to  France  of  a  host 


28  The   World's  StDidai/  School  C'uuccution. 

of  workers,  and  of  a  largo  amount  of  luouey,  and  I  cannot  express 
deeply  enough  the  gi-atitude  that,  as  a  Christian  and  as  a  Frenchman, 
I  feel  for  your  generous  and  annually  increasmg  aid.  The  work  among 
tlie  children  of  the  popidar  classes  has  been  from  the  beginning,  and  is 
becoming  more  and  more,  an  important  part  of  the  general  labour  uf 
the  Mission. 

I  hope  tliat  my  friend,  M.  Qreig,  who  has  the  special  direction  of  that 
branch,  will  in  the  course  of  the  Convention  have  tlie  opportunity  of 
giving  some  interesting  mformation  respecting  it ;  not  only  in  esta- 
blishing mission  rooms  in  Paris  and  in  some  towns  of  France,  but  in 
awakening  the  missionai-y  zeal  of  the  chiu-ches.  Nearly  everywhere  the 
McAll  Mission  has  been  a  great  benefit  to  the  cause  of  the  Gospel. 

Cliristians  understand  well  that  they  cannot  be  satisfied  in  remaining 
quiet  and  content  with  small  congregations,  but  they  have  received  the 
order  of  the  Master  to  go  and  preach  to  everybody  the  glad  tidings  of 
the  Gospel.  Great  difEculties  are  met  with  among  the  growu-up 
]ieople.  Of  course  the  grace  of  God  is  all-powerful,  and  the  most 
liardened  sinner  livmg  amidst  the  worst  surroundings  may  be  changed 
and  transformed  by  it ;  but  the  hearts  of  the  children  are  more  easily 
open  to  its  influence.  Every  one  now  has  tried  it,  and  we  know  that 
tlirough  the  children  we  have  the  best  opportunity  of  reaching  and 
touching  the  parents. 

I  think,  thei'efore,  that  well-organized,  well-conducted,  well- 
supplied,  missionai-y  Sunday  and  Thursday  schools  are  the  most  efficient 
ways  of  promotmg  missionary  work  among  the  artisans  of  France ;  and, 
consequently,  I  maintain  that  the  creation  and  the  growth  by  the  grace 
of  God  of  such  a  work  in  France,  and  all  through  the  world,  will  give 
to  the  work  which  it  is  the  special  object  of  the  Convention  to  promote 
a  new  and  an  immense  importance. 

What  a  privilege  it  is  for  us,  dear  friends,  dear  brothers  and  sisters 
of  every  comitry  of  the  world,  to  have  been  called  to  take  any  part  in 
.such  a  work  as  bringmg  to  Clarist  and  awakening  to  a  new  life  young 
chilch-en,  spreading  everywhere  the  good  seed  of  the  Gospel ;  coming  in 
contact  with  hearts  not  yet  darkened  and  hardened  by  the  practice 
of  evil ;  preparing  a  new  generation  of  servants  of  the  Lord,  and  of 
messengers  of  Cln:'ist.  I  dai*e  saj  that  among  the  many  beautiful  things 
in  the  Pai-is  Exliibition  there  is  none  so  beautifid  as  this  work  in  wliich 
Ave  are  engaged,  none  more  beautiful,  and  it  seems  to  me  none  moi-e 
fruitful.     May  God  help  us  to  do  it  humbly,  lovingly,  and  faithfully. 

The  Chau-man,  at  the  conclusion  of  Mons.  Sautter's  address,  again 
shook  hands  witli  him,  and  said,  my  mother  came  from  the  old  Huguenots, 
from  whom  I  di-ew  my  first  Sunday  school  inspiration. 

Me.  E.  D.  Kikg  {Salifax,  Nova  Scotia). 

It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  speak  from  this  platform,  on  behalf, 
sliall  I  say,  of  the  colonies  ?     The  British  Empire  is,  I  believe,  com- 


Jivsjiiinsa   to    WclcciiKJ.  29 

posed  of  some  -I-Sj.OOU.OOU  of  people,  of  whom  WO.OOO.LMJO  arc  in  the 
colonies  of  Great  Britain.  I  wmit  to  say  a  word  on  behalf  of  these 
colonics,  so  that  you  may  understand  \vho  we  are.  I  have  been  put 
lip  by  the  Canadian  delegation  to  speak  of  Canada,  because  I  am  a 
native  of  the  soil ;  and  you  want  to  sec  a  native.  Not  two  years  ago  T 
saw  iu  a  London  religious  newspaper  a  paragraph  to  the  eflcct  that 
the  Baptists  and  Methodists  iu  Kova  Scotia  were  very  numerous — and 
I  come  from  there — but  they  were  mostly  colom-ed  people.  I  am 
one  of  the  coloured  people.  (The  speaker  was  only  a  little  brown.) 
Another  reason  why  Diy  beloved  brethren  asked  me  to  speak  on  their 
behalf  is,  because  I  also  come  from  Nova  Scotia,  i.e.  "New  Scotland." 
We  have  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  also  a  new  England.  I  do 
not  know  that  I  regret  it  very  much,  but  it  deliglits  to  iloat  the  Stars 
and  Stripes.  Then  we  have  also  a  new  France,  called  the  province  of 
Quebec;  but  the  people  of  Quebec  delight  in  the  glorious  Union  Jack. 
As  to  the  new  Scotland,  descendants  of  old  Scotland,  my  fatlier  was  a 
Scotsmaii — there  never  was  a  time  in  tlieir  history  when  they  did  not 
delight  to  float  tlie  time-honoured  Union  Jack,  with  the  Cross  of  St. 
Anch'cw  displayed  in  its  folds. 

I  wish  I  could  speak  on  behalf  of  Australia,  and  India,  and  the  great 
Colonial  Empu-e  outside  Canada;  but  I  fear  I  shall  have  to  devote  the 
moments  allotted  to  me  in  saying  a  few  words  about  Canada  more 
l)articularly,  while  I  return  heartfelt  thanks  for  all  my  beloved  brethren 
of  the  colonies  for  the  earnest  and  touching  words  and  welcome  addressetl 
to  us  this  mornhig. 

I  thank  you.  Lord  Kinnau-d,  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Belsey,  and  the 
other  brethren  who  have  spoken  these  kind  words  to  us.  We  have  come 
a  long  distance  that  our  hearts  might  be  stin-ed,  and  that  we  might  bo 
stimulated  anew  iu  this  glorious  work  of  Sunday  school  instruction. 

I  speak  particidarly  for  750,000  Sunday  school  workers  in  Canada. 
I  hold  in  my  hand  statistics  which,  however,  I  fear  I  shall  not  have 
time  to  read  to  you.  But  this  I  want  to  say,  viz.,  that  we  are  in  entire 
sympathy  in  this  ■v\ovk  with  our  beloved  brethren  in  the  United 
States.  We  believe  in  the  defiiution  of  union  given  by  Dr.  Cuyler  this 
morning.  We  do  not  believe  in  mere  talk  for  union,  but  wc  do  believe 
in  working  together  in  this  glorious  cause.  We  are  proud  to  know 
that  on  om'  side  of  the  Atlantic  we  have  wiped  out  all  distinction  of 
nationality,  race,  and  creed,  and  that  we  can  work  together  as  an 
International  Sunday  School  Convention.  I  had  the  pleasiu-e  of  attentl- 
ing  the  fii-st  International  Sunday  School  Convention  held  in  1875  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore  ;  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  occasion.  My  mind 
often  reverts  to  it.  I  then  received  an  inspiration  which  has  never  left 
me  up  to  the  present  moment. 

I  am  not  proud  of  any  distinction  conferred  upon  me  so  much  as  I 
am  of  the  fact  that  I  belong  to  the  great  army  of  10,000,000  Smiday 
school  workers  in  the  North  American  Continent  to  day.  We  cannot 
tell  you  of  big  trees  like  those  of  California,  to  which  our  American 


30  The   WorhVs  Sundaij  Schoul  Convention, 

friends  refer ;  but  you  must  not  forget  tliat  we  are  a  big  country, 
too.  Since  I  came  to  London,  I  find  that  an  American  means  some 
one  wlio  lives  in  the  United  States. 

A  lot  of  people  have  asked  me,  "Are  you  from  America?"  My 
reply  has  been,  "  Yes,  I  am  from  America,  and  from  Canada  as  well;  " 
and,  although  we  have  not  very  big  trees,  -we  have  the  biggest  railway 
in  the  world,  and  all  iiuder  one  management.  A  train  of  cars  starts 
from  the  city  of  Halifax  and  travels  3500  miles.  We  are  hoping  for 
the  day  when  we  shall  have  as  large  a  popidation  as  oin-  bretlu-en  in 
the  United  States,  and  our  hope  also  is  that  the  popidation  may  be  so 
trained  in  Christian  knowledge,  and  so  infused  with  the  Simday  schoul 
idea,  that  it  will  be  a  popidation  for  Cln-ist  and  for  His  work.  I  want  to 
tell  you  what  oiu-  definition  of  the  Simday  school  is.  I  have  noticed,  since 
I  came  to  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  that  there  is  an  absence  of  adults 
from  yoiu-  Smiday  schools.  I  visited  one  of  them  last  Sunday.  There 
seem  not  to  be  too  many  members  of  the  church  there.  The  children 
are  in  your  school,  and  the  superintendent  talks  of  the  "  little  childi-en" 
■when  he  addi-esses  the  school. 

Now,  oiu"  idea  of  Simday  school  is  an  idea  whichlthink  the  Chafrmau 
wOl  say  has  the  approval  aU  over  the  North  American  Continent,  viz., 
the  Sunday  school  is  the  church  at  work,  and  every  member  should 
have  a  place  in  the  Sunday  school,  either  as  a  teacher  or  as  one  receiving 
instruction.  When  this  idea  of  the  Sunday  school  is  reahzed  all  over 
this  world,  then  the  church  of  Christ  will  be  a  mighty  power  in  bring- 
ing dow^l  the  strongholds  of  Satan,  and  we  will  come  up  as  one  man 
and  one  woman  "to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against 
the  mighty."  Agam  I  thank  you  for  the  earnest,  hearty,  and  cheery 
reception  we  have  received  this  morning. 

The  session  was  concluded  by  prayer. 


(     31     ) 


FIK8T  DAY.— SECOND  SESSION. 

Tuesday  Afteuxoon,  2kd  July. 

THE  WOEK  EEPORTED. 

BULES  AND  ELECTION  OF  OFFICEES, 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  (Chicago),  in  the  first  instaaice,  occupied  the  cIiuli'. 
Tlie  proceeclings  were  opeued  with  a  hymn,  and  prayer  ofTered  up  by 
Eev.  Richard  Glover,  of  Bristoh 

The  Chaibman  :  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  the  committee  hare  con- 
Bidered  the  matters  referred  to  them,  and  they  have  now  to  submit  to 
you  the  following  resolution  :  "  That  the  rules  which  govern  tliis 
Convention  shall  be  the  rules  which  govern  dehberative  bodies,  and 
that  all  resolutions  shall  be  read  and  referred  to  the  executive  com- 
mittee, to  be  considered  and  referred  from  them  to  the  Convention 
according  to  the  best  judgment  of  the  committee."  I  hope  you  all 
imderstaud  that,  before  taking  the  vote.  Now,  it  would  be  a  very 
pleasing  thing,  if  time  allowed  and  we  coidd  remahi  till  Chi-istraas 
to  hear  fi-om  every  one  who  wishes  to  speak,  whether  they  have  any- 
thing to  say  or  only  tliink  they  have  ;  but,  as  we  are  busy  people,  and 
as  we  wish  to  see  sometliing  of  London  after  the  Convention  is  over,  wo 
think  it  woidd  be  a  wise  thing  to  prevent  the  Americans  i'rom  gcttiii" 
loose  among  you,  as  otherwise  there  would  be  no  telling  when  tlic  Con- 
vention might  end. 

The  resolution  was  then  put  and  agreed  to. 

The  Chairmak  :  The  committee  beg  to  submit  that  the  following 
names  wliich  have  been  chosen  should  be  adopted  as  members  of  the 
executive  committee.  The  names  are  :  For  Great  Britain — Messrs. 
Belsey,  Towers,  Clements,  TUlett,  Col.  Griffin,  and  C.  Waters.  For  the 
United  States — Col.  Ormsby,  Messrs.  Babbitt,  "NMiite,  ColliuSj  and 
Jacobs  ;  and  for  Canada — Mr.  McLean. 

The  names  suggested  were  unanimously  agi'eed  upon. 

The  proposition,  that  Mr.  F.  F.  Belsky  be  chosen  as  the  permanent 
president  of  the  Convention,  was  agreed  to  amidst  loud  applause. 

The  Eev.  S.  W.  Clark,  of  New  Jersey,  T.S.A.,  was  elected  em-olment 


32  Organized  Saiidai/  School   Woric  : 

secretary,  and  the  Kcv.  J.  A.  Eiiglit,  of  Kansas,  U.S.A.,  Mr.  Waters,  of 
London,  and  Mr.  Clements,  of  London,  the  reeordmg  secretiiries. 
Mr.  BELSjii'  then  took  the  chair  as  I'resident, 


The  President's  ADmiEiss. 

Mr,  Jacobs  and  my  dear  brethren,  in  my  business  days,  wlien  I  was 
eager  to  make  money,  an  old  friend  of  mine  used  to  check  my  eagerness 
in  the  pursuit  of  wealth  by  saying,  "  Never  mind,  young  man,  however 
rich  you  may  get,  you  can  never  enjoy  two  dmners  in  one  day."  I  am 
sure  no  one  can  enjoy  two  dinners  from  the  same  joint ;  and,  liaving 
had  an  opportunity  of  speaking  this  morning,  I  shall  take  my  old 
friend's  advice,  and  shall  not  deliver  two  addresses  in  one  day.  I  shall, 
therefore,  thi-ow  into  the  lap  of  yom*  discussion  the  half-hour  I  might 
have  consumed  in  addi-essing  you  at  the  outset  of  the  pvoeeedmgs  ; 
but  I  will  ventm-e  just  to  say  this,  that  no  one  in  this  assembly  more 
deeply  regrets  than  I  do  the  occasion  of  my  presence  ui  this  chair.  We 
were  all,  especiallT  those  acquainted  with  Mr.  Blake,  of  Toronto,  looking 
forward  to  his  visit,  and  those  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  attending 
Conventions  \inder  his  presidency,  as  I  had  in  Toronto,  wiU  know  how 
much  this  Convention  is  losing  through  his  absence.  I  rarely  met  a 
man  who  possesses  so  much  judgment  and  ability,  so  much  kind  and 
Christian  feeling,  and  who  so  happily  orders  the  proceedings  of  a  great 
deliberative  assembly.  I  am  svu-e  that  we  shall  all  regret  that  Mr.  Blake 
is  unable  to  be  with  us,  and  unable  through  cu-ciunstances  which  we 
shall  all  appreciate.  He  is  one  of  an  honoured  class,  much  abused  in 
this  country,  but  much  lauded  across  the  seas — I  mean  he  is  a  lawyer, 
and  his  duty  to  his  clients  prevents  him  from  coming  amongst  us.  I 
am  glad  that  our  American  counsel  take  such  a  view  of  their  duty,  and 
may  I  ask  our  English  counsel  to  take  a  leaf  out  of  their  books  ? 

I  shovdd  have  been  very  glad  if  this  king-making  Warwick 
(Mr.  Jacobs)  had  kindly  taken  tlxis  position  himself.  I  fully  thought, 
when  I  entered  the  committee-room  last  night,  that  it  was  settled  that 
Mr.  Jacobs  would  give  us  the  advantage  of  his  presence  in  the  chair ; 
but  he  is  one  of  the  vice-presidents,  and  I  have  permission  to  leave  the 
chair  as  often  as  I  like.  I  do  rejoice,  as  an  old  Sunday  school  teachei", 
to  stand  in  this  assembly  and  to  welcome  so  many  kindred  hearts. 

There  are  two  great  forces  in  natm-e — ever  exerting  themselves — the 
centripetal  and  the  centrifugal.  A  centripetal  force  has  drawn  us 
together,  and  brought  us  to  tliis  common  centi-e  in  the  spiritual  kingdom 
to  exchange  our  thoughts,  to  increase  our  interest  in  our  work,  and  to 
cheer  one  another  with  words  of  sympathy.  By-and-by  there  will 
come  in  the  centrifugal  force,  scattering  this  Convention,  and  giving 
new  inspiration  to  the  work  of  Simday  schools.  By-and-by,  the  many 
small  schools  from  Oregon  in  the  West  to  Russia  in  the  East — from 
the  most  civilized  cities  :  from  London,  Berlin,  and  New  York — down 
to  the  smallest  hamlet  and  mission  station  in  India,  may  rejoice  toi 


Til  fircal  lirilain.  33 

know  that  llio  eonlnpcliil  foivo  brought  lis  togotlicr,  and  that  \vc  go 
forth  with  centrifugal  force  to  spread  the  blessings  wc  have  received 
and  to  improve  the  work  we  ai"e  trying  to  do.  Now,  my  dear  friends, 
it  is  my  pleasing  duty  to  call  upon  one  whose  presence  we  are  all 
])leased  to  have  amongst  ns  to-d.iy.  You  Americans  come  frojn  the 
land  of  patent  medicines,  and  if  you  can  only  tell  us  of  any  compound 
that  would  put  back  the  clock  of  Mr.  Hartley's  life  twenty-five  years, 
so  that  he  might  continue  the  woi'k  in  which  he  is  engaged,  we  should 
all  rejoice.     Mr.  Hartley  will  favour  the  first  paper  on 


ORGANIZED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  IN  GREAT 
BRITAIN. 

Mk.  Fountain  J.  Hartley  (Senior  Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School 
Union,  London)  then  rose  and  read  as  follows  : — 

Tlie  subject  on  which  I  am  to  speak  is  Organized  Sunday  School 
^York  in  Gi'eat  Britain,  which  I  take  to  include  these  three  propositions  : 

I.  Tlie  gradual  progress  of  the  Sunday  school  system  from  its  small 
beginnings  in  the  city  of  Gloucester  to  its  present  position  of  magnitude 
and  importance. 

II.  The  internal  organization  of  the  Sunday  school,  or  the  principles 
and  methods  upon  which  it  is  conducted  in  this  country. 

III.  The  external  organizations  by  which  the  Sunday  school  has 
been  stimulated,  encoxu-agcd,  and  assisted  to  attain  its  present  position. 

To  do  justice  to  these  topics,  half  a  day  would  be  insufficient.  Yerv 
little  can  be  accomplished  in  half  an  hour. 

I.  The  gradual  progress  of  the  Sunday  school  system  from  its  small 
beginnings  in  the  city  of  Gloucester  to  its  present  ^^osition  of  magnitude 
and  importance. 

We  in  England  still  look  to  Eobert  Raikes  as  the  real  founder  of 
Smiday  schools,  but  if  it  be  contended  that  he  only  revived  the  ancient 
Jewish  schools,  or  the  Catechumen  Classes  of  the  2nd  and  3rd  centuries, 
inasmuch  as  these  institutions  had  fallen  into  desuetude  for  something 
like  1500  years,  his  position  would  simply  be  changed  from  that  of 
Founder  to  that  of  i?e-founder,  which  would  not  materially  lessen  his 
claims  to  our  gi'atitude  and  admiration. 

At  any  rate  the  movement  which  lie  inaugm-ated  met  a  national 
want,  and  spread  rapidly  through  the  land. 

In  1785,  five  years  after  Raikes  opened  his  first  school,  the  number 
of  Sunday  scholars  in  England  and  Wales  were  computed  as  250,000. 

In  1818  the  first  parliamentary  retm-n  gave  the  number  as  477,225 

In  1833,  the  second  pai-liamentary  return  reported      .         .  1,548,890 

In  1S51,  the  Census  Returns  gave  the  number  as         .         .  2,407,642 

In  1S89,  my  recent  estimate  as  stated  in  the  S.  S.  Army,  is  5,733,325 

Thus  showing  for  England  and  Wales  a  proportion  of  20 '29  per 
cent,  on  the  population,  or  rather  more  than  1  in  5. 


34  Orijanlr.cd  Sundaii  ScIlovI  Work  : 

Or  if  the  teachers  and  scholars  arc  added  together,  as  is  duuc  hy  our 
American  friends,  the  total  nnmbcr  in  the  Sunday  schools  amount  to 
6,350,26G,  ov  2205  per  cent,  of  the  po})ulation. 

It  is  wortliy  of  consideration  that  the  extension  of  day  school 
education  so  far  from  hindering  the  progress  of  Sunday  schools,  as  was 
predicted  in  many  quarters,  has  had  a  precisely  opposite  eflect,  the 
number  of  theu-  scholars  having  never  increased  with  so  much  rapidity 
as  it  has  done  since  the  passing  of  the  Education  Act,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  School  Boards. 

The  number  of  Smiday  scholars  iu  England  and  "Wales  now  exceeds 
by  one  milhon  the  number  of  day  scholars,  although  in  the  latter  case 
the  power  of  the  State  is  exerted  to  compel  attendance,  while  in  the 
case  of  Sunday  schools  the  attendance  is  perfectly  voluntary  on  the 
part  of  the  childi-en  and  then-  parents. 

Wales  taken  alone  would  show  as  large  a  percentage  to  tlie  popula- 
tion as  30  per  cent.,  while  London  is  far  beliind,  showing  only  about 
12  joer  cent.,  so  that  metropolitan  Clu-istians  have  a  great  work  to  do 
in  the  way  of  extension. 

The  churches  of  London  have  not  been  left  in  ignorance  upon  this 
question. 

The  deficiency  has  been  pointed  out  in  our  Reports,  and  in  the 
'  Sunday  School  Chronicle,'  and  in  the  '  Sunday  School  Army,'  some 
thousands  of  which  have  been  issued. 

Such  is  the  confusion  of  boundaries,  and  such  the  lack  of  atatistical  in- 
formation, that  the  exact  percentage  of  Sunday  scholars  to  thcpopvilation 
of  the  mctropohs  has  never  been  ascertained  since  the  census  of  1851. 

At  that  time  while  the  percentage  for  England  and  Wales  waa 
13 J  per  cent.,  the  x^ercentage  for  London  was  5*95  per  cent.  If  now 
it  is  12  per  cent.,  it  has  doubled  since  1851,  but  it  is  still  far  below  the 
other  portions  of  England  and  Wales. 

Indeed,  while  thankful  we  have  so  large  a  hold  on  the  pop^ilation,  sc* 
far  fi'om  havuig  cause  to  boast  of  our  numbers,  we  are  at  least  a  million 
behindliand.  Nothing  less  than  25  per  cent.,  or  one  in  four  of  the 
popvdation,  will  meet  the  necessities  of  the  case.  Thousands  of  tlie 
lower  classes  are  yet  outside  who  ought  to  be  inside.  Large  numbers 
of  the  upper  (-lasses  need  to  be  brought  under  the  instruction  and 
influence  of  the  Sunday  school  teacher,  and  a  much  greater  proportion 
of  elder  scholars  should  be  retained  in  om-  senior  classes. 

In  Scotland  the  Sunday  school  system  did  not  for  some  years  make 
such  rapid  progress  as  in  England.  The  ecclesiastical  theory  that  only 
ministers  ought  to  teach  rehgion  hindered  the  spread  of  the  new  insti- 
tution ;  but  more  recently,  satisfactory  progress  has  been  made,  and 
there  are  now  in  our  Scottish  Smiday  schools  651,975  scholars,  or  about 
16  per  cent,  of  the  pojndation,  whereas  iu  1851  the  proportion  was  but 
slightly  over  10  per  cent. 

Ireland  is  a  Koman  Catholic  country,  and  as  no  information  can  be 
obtained  as  to  Catholic  Sunday  sclioolsj  while  three^fourths  of  the 


Ill  Grcdt  Brilahi.  35 

Itopulatioii  or  more  bi-loiig  lu  the  Popish  C'Imrfli,  anything  like  so 
largo  a  poi'contago  of  Sunday  scholars  is  not  to  be  expected. 

Tlie  muuber  of  scholars  in  the  Protestant  Sunday  s(;hools  is  310,099, 
which,  if  we  assume  that  three-fourtiia  of  the  population  are  Roman 
Catliolics,  would  show  a  percentage  of  25  per  cent,  for  the  remainder, 
so  that  the  Protestants  are  making  large  provision  for  their  own  young 
people,  and  doing  something  towards  the  instruction  of  their  Catholic 
fellow-subjects. 

Altogether  the  number  of  scholars  in  the  United  Kingdom  ia 
C,G95,309,  and  if  the  701,286  teachers  are  doing  all  they  might,  could, 
and  should  do  for  the  scholars  entrusted  to  their  care,  a  glorious  work 
is  being  effected  towards  the  ultimate  triumph  of  tlie  Gospel.* 

II.  So  much  for  the  progress  of  Sunday  scliools  in  Great  Britain 
during  the  past  century,  and  now  for  a  few  remarks  on  some  features 
in  the  internal  organization  of  our  British  Sunday  schools. 

As  the  Sunday  school  is  to  be  almost  exclusively  the  object  of  our 
contemplation  and  the  subject  of  our  discussion  during  the  next  four 
or  five  days,  it  may  be  well  to  put  the  question  :  "  What  is  a  Sunday 
School  ?  " — and  a  better  definition  cannot  be  given  than  that  supplied 
by  our  esteemed  and  learned  friend,  Dr.  II.  C.  Trumbidl  in  his  excellent 
Yale  Lectures  on  the  Sunday  school.  "  A  Sunday  school  is  an  agency 
of  the  church,  by  wliich  the  Word  of  God  is  taught  interlocutorily,  or 
catechetically,  to  cliildren  and  other  learners  clustered  in  groups  or 
classes  under  separate  teachers ;  all  these  groups  or  classes  beinw 
associated  under  a  common  head.  Herein  the  Simday  school  is 
differentiated  from  the  catechismal  general  service,  from  the  expository 
Bible  lecture,  from  the  children's  meeting,  and  from  any  school  for 
secular  instruction  on  the  first  day  of  the  week.  Its  source  of  authoritv 
is  God's  church ;  its  subject-matter  of  study  is  the  Bible ;  its  form  of 
teaching  includes  a  free  use  of  question  and  answer ;  its  membership 
includes  children ;  its  an-angement  is  by  groups  clustering  severally 
around  individual  teachers,  as  component  portions  of  a  unified  whole. 
Any  one  of  these  particulars  lacking,  a  school  held  on  Sunday  fails  of 
lieing  specifically  a  Sunday  school.  All  of  these  particulars  being  found, 
ii  gatherhig  is  substantially  a  Sunday  school,  on  whatever  day  of  the 
week  it  assembles,  or  by  whatsoever  name  it  be  called." 

With  the  exception  of  tlie  last  sentence,  we  heartily  adopt  this  defini- 
tion, but  we  cannot  admit  that  a  sciiool  which  meets  only  on  a  week  day 
is  a  Sunday  school.  At  any  rate  all  our  Sunday  schools  meet  on  a  Sunday, 
and  though  we  do  try  to  infiuence  and  help  our  scholars  during  the 
week,  the  Sabbath-day  meeting  is  the  centre  and  starting-point  for  all. 

Looking  carefully  at  Dr.  Trumbull's  definition,  I  wish  most  heartily 
that  all  oiu"  Sunday  schools  were  so  organized  as  to  cany  into  practical 
action  the  several  jjarts  in  that  definition. 

*  For  Summary  of  Sunday  School  Statistic.!  for  the  United  Kingdom, 
see  Appendix, 

o  2 


36  Organized  Simday  School  Worh  : 

It  is,  however,  impossible  to  claim  that  all  our  iSunday  schools  arc  in 
a  well-organized  condition.  Some  of  them  have  little  or  no  organization 
at  all,  and  many  of  the  best  schools  are  imperfect  in  some  particulars. 
All  I  can  do  therefore  under  this  division  of  my  subject  is  to  call 
attention  to  some  of  the  principal  features  which  indicate  the  position 
of  our  schools  in  the  matter  of  internal  organization. 

(1.)  As  to  the  relation  of  the  Sunday  school  to  the  church.  In  time 
past,  misunderstandings  on  this  point  were  not  infrequent,  but  right 
views  now  almost  universally  prevail,  and  the  practice  corresjDonds  in 
the  main  with  the  theory.  The  Sunday  school  is  properly  regarded  as 
a  church  institution.  All  facilities,  school-room,  teachers,  and  every- 
thing necessary  to  cai'i-y  on  the  work  of  religious  instruction  among  the 
yoimg,  the  church  is  bound  to  supply. 

The  teachers  should  be  appointed  by  the  chiu'ch,  and  charged  by  the 
pastor  at  their  entrance  on  the  work. 

The  superintendent  and  secretaiy  nominated  by  the  teachers  should 
be  appointed  or  recognized  by  a  vote  of  the  church.  These  arrange- 
ments if  miiversally  adopted  would  strengthen  the  connection  and 
develop  the  sympathy  of  the  members  and  officers  of  the  church.  The 
teachers  would  feel  that  they  are  doing  the  chm-ch's  work  ;  and  a  regvJar 
quarterly  report  presented  to  the  chiu-ch  meeting  would  maintaiii  the 
interest  of  all  parties  in  the  work  of  God  among  the  young. 

(2.)  As  to  the  actual  management  of  the  school.  The  teachers  and 
officers  with  some  of  the  church  members  usually  form  a  committee 
over  which  the  pastor  presides.  All  details  of  management  are  settled 
at  this  meeting,  Avhich  meets  monthly  or  quarterly  ;  and  if  the  super- 
intendent be  an  efficient  man,  this  arrangement  is  found  amply  suffi- 
cient to  maintain  good  order  and  efficiency. 

(3.)  One  of  the  cluef  characteristics  of  well  organized  schools  is  a 
well  conducted  infant  or  primary  class,  or  classes.  Such  a  class 
taught,  in  a  comfortable  room  with  raised  seats,  a  letter-box  and  plenty 
of  pictures,  by  a  lively  and  loving  teacher,  is  at  the  very  foundation  of 
a  good  Sunday  school. 

(4.)  Of  equal  importance  at  the  other  end  of  the  scale  is  the  question 
of  senior  classes.  At  one  time,  the  existence  of  one  such  class  for  each 
sex  was  considered  sufficient ;  but  the  fact  is  now  recognized  that  if 
only  attractive  class-rooms  are  provided  in  sufficient  numbers,  and 
plenty  of  well-qualified,  kind-hearted  teachers  are  forthcoming,  the 
number  of  elder  scholars  might  be  almost  indefinitely  extended. 

In  fact  I  look  forward  to  the  time  when  more  than  half  the  scholars 
in  our  Sunday  schools  will  be  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  but  before  this 
can  be  the  case,  the  churches  must  be  stu-red  up  to  a  sense  of  their 
responsibility  in  the  matter,  and  furnish  the  buildings  and  agency 
reqiiired  for  the  work  upon  the  same  scale  and  after  the  noble  example 
of  our  friends  in  the  United  States,  who  are  considerably  ahead  of  us 
in  this  important  matter. 

(5.)  The  large   majority  of  otu"  English  Sunday  schools   have  two 


Ill  (rirat  Bi'dain.  37 

sessions,  but  the  morning  schools  unfortiinntoly  do  not  attract  half  as 
many  scliolars  as  tlio  afternoon  school,  and  in  many  cases  tlie  small 
morning  attendance,  both  of  teachers  and  scholar:*,  has  led  1o  the 
giving  lip  of  tlic  morning  session  altogether. 

In  the  oiiinion,  however,  of  a  large  proportion  of  Sunday  school 
workers  tliis  tendency  is  much  to  be  regretted,  not  only  because  the 
morning  is  regarded  as  inidoubtcJly  tlie  best  time  for  teaching,  but, 
because  the  one  liour  per  week  is  altogether  disproportioned  to  Wn- 
greatness  of  the  work  to  bo  done,  a  large  amount  of  the  scholars  being 
idmost  entirel}''  dependent  on  the  Sunday  school  for  their  religious 
instruction. 

(6.)  As  to  the  question  of  imiform  lessons  throughout  all  tiie  classes 
of  the  school,  there  is  now  a  pretty  general  agreement,  and  the  list  of 
lessons  selected  by  the  Sunday  School  Union,  which  includes  the  inter- 
national lesson  for  one  part  of  the  day,  is  probably  accepted  by  about 
half  the  Sunday  schools  in  this  country,  and  the  Intel-national  Bible 
Reading  Association  is  proving  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  the  Sunday 
lessons,  all  its  readings  being  selected  for  their  bearing  on  the  lesson  for 
next  Sunday.  A  membership  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million  sufficiently 
attests  the  geuei-al  estimate  of  this  imiwrtant  movement. 

(7.)  As  to  the  training  of  teachers,  there  is  a  very  gi-eat  deficiency 
among  om*  British  Simday  schools.  In  time  past  the  gravest  complaiuts 
have  been  made  as  to  the  incompetence  of  teachers,  and  though  con- 
siderable improvement  has  doubtless  taken  place  of  late  years,  very 
much  remains  to  be  done  in  that  direction. 

Unfortunately,  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  secure  the  attendance 
of  a  sufficient  number  of  teachers  to  keep  up  the  interest  and  exert  any 
considerable  influence  on  the  supply  of  teachers  and  the  increase  of 
their  eOlciency,  and  the  cry  still  prevails,  "  Give  tis  more  teachers, 
BETTER  TEACHERS."  Our  hope  is  that  the  churches  will  in  an  m- 
creasing  measure  devote  the  best  of  their  talent  to  this  important  work, 
and  meanwhile  something  might  be  accomplished  by  occasionally 
turning  our  senior  classes  into  training  classes,  and  thus  fitting  our 
young  men  and  women  to  fill  up  vacancies  in  the  teaching  staff  as  they 
may  occur. 

Nothing,  however,  will  meet  the  necessities  of  the  case  but  the 
multiplication  of  such  institutes  and  trainmg  classes  as  abound  in  the 
United  States,  and  a  determination  on  the  part  of  teachers  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  advantages  placed  within  then-  reach  and  thus  bruig 
up  their  quahfications  to  the  desired  standard. 

(8.)  As  to  the  preparation  class,  or  teachers'  meeting  for  the  study  of 
the  lesson,  a  similar  difficulty  ahnost  universally  exists. 

Some  few  schools  have  good  preparation  classes  tolerably  attended, 
and  some  useful  classes  for  the  teachers  of  adjoining  schools  ai-e  sus- 
tained in  fair  average  efficiency  ;  but  speakuig  generally,  teachers  find 
it  impossible  to  leave  their  homes  or  business  engagements,  and  the 
class  soon  conies  to  an  end. 


38  Organized  Siindaii  School  WorJi  : 

Ilcnco,  not  more  tlian  five  per  cent,  of  the  teachers  conncetcfl  with 
the  Union  are  reported  to  atteucT  preparation  classes,  the  great  majority 
are  entirely  dependent  upon  theii-  lesson  lielps  and  private  study  for 
their  readhiess  to  teach  their  Sunday  lesson,  and  no  greater  ad^'antage 
could  result  from  tliis  Convention  than  the  mitiation  of  a  movement 
for  the  wider  extension  of  preparation  and  training  classes,  and  a 
determination  on  the  part  of  teachers  to  overcome  the  difficidties  which 
prevent  then*  attendance  thereat. 

(9.)  With  the  object  of  enlisting  the  sympathies  of  the  scholars 
early  in  life  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  most  of  our  schools  make 
collections  on  behalf  of  the  Missionary  Society  connected  with  their 
own  denommatiou,  and  in  many  eases  considerable  sums  are  raised  for 
this  object,  sometimes  equalling  or  even  surpassing  the  amount  sub- 
scribed by  the  adult  members  of  the  congregation.  Many  of  the 
schools  connected  with  the  Union  contribute  some  small  amount  (too 
small  in  most  eases)  towards  the  Sunday  School  Union  Continental 
Mission,  the  scholars  thus  showmg  their  desu-e  that  the  children  of 
other  lands  should  have  the  same  privileges  of  religious  instruction 
which  they  themselves  enjoy. 

All  interested  in  the  Continental  Mission  will  be  encouraged  by  the 
fact  just  reported,  that  we  can  now  calculate  upon  a  million  of  scholars 
in  the  Sunday  schools  on  the  Contment  of  Europe. 

(10.)  As  to  the  efforts  made  to  interest  and  instruct  the  scholars  on 
the  week-day,  I  am  glad  to  report  that  an  increasing  amount  of  atten- 
tion is  now  being  paid  by  a  large  number  of  our  Sunday  school 
teachers.  Christian  Bands,  Societies  of  Christian  Endeavour,  Bands  of 
Hope,  Lectures  with  Dissolving  views.  Mutual  Improvement  Classes, 
Cricket  Clubs  for  the  young  men,  and  numerous  other  means  of  doing 
good,  bring  together  large  numbers  of  our  scholars  diu-ing  the  week, 
increase  then- attacluuent  to  teachers  and  schools,  and  exert  an  influence 
wliich  tends  to  keep  them  in  the  right  way  and  fit  them  for  future 
usefulness. 

In  thus  pointing  out  some  of  the  characteristics  of  our  British  Sunday 
schools,  I  have  simply  endeavoured  to  open  up  a  few  glimpses  of 
tilings  as  they  are,  not  confining  myself  to  the  bright  side  of  the 
question,  but  giving  a  fan*  and  impartial  view  both  of  excellencies  and 
defects  in  their  internal  organization. 

The  Biibject  is  by  no  means  exhausted,  and  indeed  there  are  several 
other  points  to  which  I  should  have  alluded  if  time  permitted,  such  as 
"  Adult  Schools,"  "  Sunday  Evening  Services  for  the  Young,"  &c.,  &c. 

I  can  only  express  the  hope  m  closing  this  branch  of  my  subject  that 
this  great  Convention  may  render  essential  service  in  improving  the 
organization  of  oiu-  beloved  Sunday  schools,  and  bringing  them  to  as 
high  a  state  of  perfection  as  their  best  friends  coidd  desu-e. 

III.  I  must  now  proceed  to  the  third  branch  of  my  subject,  namely — 
The  external  organizations  by  which  the  Sunday  school  has  been 
stimulated,  encouraged,  and  assisted  to  attain  its  present  position. 


In  Great  Jirllnni.  39 

Five  joars  aTlcr  Kaikcs  (ppoiicd  liis  iii'sl  Siiiulav  .-cliudl,  "'J'lir  .Snud.iy 
Sfhuol  ►Soc-ifly  "  was  loundt-d  in  London  iov  the  cstablishniriil  and 
support  of  ynnday  schools  hi  Croaf  ]!rilaiii.  Tlio  cliiof  cflorts  of  this 
iSocii't^-  wvw  diivcloil  to  (ho  supply  of  liiblos,  Kow  'iV-stanicnts,  C'hiso 
and  Spidhng  Dooks,  iind  to  the  imyuient  of  tho  one  shiUinj^  or  onn 
shilhng  and  sixpcnco  jht  ui-ck  to  (lie  toachcrs  iniganrcd  in  tlic  several 
Behools. 

This  lattei-  item  of  expenditure  amounted  in  one  jear  to  more  fliau 
4i50O,  and  in  the  lirst  twenty-four  years  of  the  existence  of  the  Society 
it  amounted  to  £4:383.  (To  furnisli  one  shilliug  and  six))euee  per 
week  to  each  of  the  present  Sunday  school  teachers  in  the  United 
Kingdom  would  require  two  millions  and  three  quarters  of  pounds 
per  annum.) 

The  noble  resolution  of  the  Oldham  Methodists,  "  Let  us  do  it  our- 
selves," soon  led  to  the  general  adoption  of  the  voluntary  principle  ; 
suid,  after  the  year  1811,  this  expenditure  entirely  ceased,  and  for  the 
rest  of  its  existence  the  work  of  the  Sunday  School  Society  was  confined 
to  grants  of  Class  Boots  and  Bibles,  which  were  then  so  expensive  that 
it  was  diiliciUt  in  many  places  to  maintain  the  Sunday  schools  without 
assistance. 

Tliis  Society  was  woimd  up  in  the  year  1864,  after  a  usefid  career  of 
seventy-nine  years,  and  its  balance  iu  hand  transfeiTcd  to  the  Sunday 
School  Union. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  19th  century,  the  Sunday  school  cause  was 
rapidly  extending  throughout  England  and  Wales,  but  a  necessity  was 
generally  felt  for  some  movement  that  should  stimulate  the  Churches  to 
adopt  the  institution  as  their  own  special  work,  and  which  should  at 
the  same  time  unite  the  newly  constituted  fellowship  of  voluntaiy 
teiichers  in  vigorous  and  combined  efforts  for  the  extension  and  im- 
provement of  the  Sunday  school  system,  and  the  creation  of  a  Sunday 
school  literatm-e. 

This  great  want  of  the  times  was  supplied  by  the  establishment  of 
the  Sunday  School  Union,  at  a  meeting  held  in  Sim-ey  Chapel  School- 
room, July  13th,  1803,  and  during  the  eighty-six  years  of  its  existence 
it  has  found  plenty  to  do  in  fulfilhng  the  object  for  which  it  was 
founded,  viz.,  the  promotion  of  Sunday  schools  at  home  and  abi'oad. 

A  brief  resume  of  its  work,  showing  in  what  way  it  has  aided  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Sunday  school  cause,  is  all  that  can  be 
attempted  to-day. 

(1.)  One  of  the  principal  departments  of  its  labom-s  has  been  the 
preparation  and  publication  of  books  and  pajDers  adapted  to  Sunday 
school  purposes. 

Among  the  earliest  of  its  publications  was  a  "  Select  List  of  Scrip- 
tm'es  for  a  com-se  of  reading  in  Sunday  schools,"  which  was  the  actual 
commencement  of  the  xiuiform  lesson  system,  and  has  gradually 
extended  iintil  it  has  become  all  but  universal,  having  culminated  in 
the  "  International  List  of  Scriptm-e  Lessons." 


40  Or<jariized  Suiidai/  Schoul  Work  : 

It  is  impossible  now  to  give  any  idea  of  the  number  and  variety  of 
the  Union  pnbUcations.  Juvenile  periodical  literatiu-e  really  originated 
with  the  Sunday  School  Union.  Magazines  for  teachers  and  scholars 
have  been  issued  in  large  numbers.  Eooks  for  the  information  and 
instruction  of  teachers ;  books  for  scholars'  home  reading,  and  foi* 
Sunday  School  libraries  ;  lists  of  lessons,  notes,  and  other  lesson  helps  ; 
hymn  books,  music  for  home  and  school,  and  Sunday  school  requisites  of 
all  kinds  have  been  issued  and  sold  at  tlic  lowest  prices. 

The  total  amount  of  sales  for  last  year  were  upwards  of  £  1G,000,  and 
a  net  profit  was  realized  amounting  to  between  two  and  three  thousand 
pomids,  the  whole  of  which  Avill  be  devoted  to  Sunday  school 
purposes. 

(2.)  The  Union  has  done  much,  especially  in  the  early  period  of  its 
liistory,  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  Sunday  schools,  and  has  contri- 
buted many  thousands  of  pounds  towards  the  erection  of  Sunday 
schools  and  class-rooms. 

(3.)  It  has  established  a  network  consisting  of  210  Sunday  School 
Unions  all  over  the  country,  including  nearly  6000  schools  ;  keeping 
up  a  voluminous  correspondence,  and  sending  deputations  from 
time  to  time  to  visit  the  schools,  eucoiu-aging  and  stimulating  the 
teachers  in  the  work  of  improving  their  schools,  and  advancing  their 
ovra  efficiency. 

(4.)  It  has  established  a  system  of  examinations  for  teachers  by 
which,  dm-ing  the  last  twenty  years,  17,670  teachers  have  been  tested  as 
to  their  knowledge  of  "  Scriptm-e  History  and  Doctrine,"  Evidences  of 
Christianity,"  and  "  The  Principles  and  Ai-t  of  Teaching,"  the  large 
majority  of  whom  passed  the  examination,  and  some  received  prizes  for 
special  proficiency. 

(5.)  The  Union  has  provided  a  system  of  examinations  for  Sunday 
scholars  conducted  by  the  Auxiliary  and  Branch  Unions  in  many  parts 
of  the  country,  which  has  proved  very  useful  in  testing  the  knowledge 
of  the  childi'en  in  the  lessons  they  have  learned  in  the  Sunday  school. 
Thirty  thousand  Sunday  scholars  presented  themselves  for  examination 
last  year,  and  the  result  showed  that  they  had  been  well  taught  that 
portion  of  the  International  Lessons  in  which  they  were  examined. 

(6.)  The  Simday  schools  of  this  country  are  largely  indebted  for 
then-  lending  libraries  to  the  Union,  which  has  compiled  catalogues  of 
suitable  books,  and  annually  expends  from  £500  to  £1000  in  cheapening 
the  libraries  to  needy  schools. 

(7.)  The  Union  has  provided  a  libraiy  of  reference  and  circulation, 
comprising  many  thousands  of  volumes  to  which  the  teachers  and 
senior  classes  in  our  Metropolitan  schools  have  access  with  the  tise  of  a 
capital  reading-room  at  the  nommal  subscription  of  one  shilling  per 
annum. 

(8.)  It  has  estabhshed  a  weekly  class  in  the  Jubilee  Hall  for  the 
training  and  preparation  of  teachers,  in  which  the  International  lesson 
for  the  next  Sabbath  is  inTai'iably  tlie  subject  of  study,  and  which, 


J II  (firdl  JJrilitin.  41 

bciuf;  ojieii  Uj  k-acliors  visiting  London,  has  fovnied  a  modi-l  foi-  many 
eimilai"  classes. 

(9.)  In  order  lo  aid  in  the  provision  of  week  evening  enlerlainnient 
and  instruction  for  Snnday  scholars,  tho  Union  has  provided  faciUties 
in  (he  shape  of  magic-lanterns  and  slides,  Eastern  costumes,  kc,  &e.,  as 
well  as  gratuitous  lecturers,  which  the  schools  are  glad  to  avail  them- 
selves of  to  a  considerable  extent. 

(10.)  The  Union  has  done  much  by  its  constant  advocacy  to  extend 
the  system  of  infant  and  senior  classes,  the  formation  of  Cln-istian 
bands  for  the  encouragement  and  training  of  young  Christians,  tho 
establishment  of  Bands  of  Hope  to  incidcate  tlie  principles  and  form 
the  habit  of  temperance ;  and  has  recently  taken  up  the  American 
movement  originated  by  the  Rev.  F.  E.  Clark,  of  Boston,  and  is  en- 
deavouring to  promote  the  formation  of  societies  of  Christian  Endeavour 
in  connection  with  Sunday  schools. 

(11.)  One  of  the  most  successful  of  the  recent  movements  of  the 
Union  has  been  the  establishment  of  the  "  International  Bible  Reading 
Association."  The  large  measure  of  acceptance  which  this  valuable 
adjunct  of  the  International  Bible  Lesson  has  met  with  in  this  country, 
in  the  Colonies,  and  in  European  lands  has  been  already  reported,  and 
I  venture  to  indulge  the  hope  that  our  American  delegates  on  their 
return  home  will  take  an  active  part  in  promoting  the  system. 

(12.)  Another  of  the  movements  which  has  been  inaugurated  by  the 
Union,  and  to  which  the  attention  of  our  American  friends  is  earnestly 
invited,  is  the  Days  of  Simidtaneous  Prayer  on  behalf  of  Sunday 
schools,  which  are  permanently  fixed  to  take  place  ou  the  third  Sunday 
and  Monday  in  October.  Surely  we  might  all  contrive  to  meet  together 
at  the  Throne  of  Grace  once  in  the  year,  and  suppUcate  a  blessing  on 
the  two  millions  of  teachers  and  the  seventeen  milUons  of  scholai-s 
which  our  Sunday  schools  contain. 

(13.)  The  Union  has  had  great  pleasure  in  co-operating  with  their 
American  fi-iends  in  the  compilation  and  cu-culation  of  the  "Inter- 
national Lessons"  for  the  last  fifteen  years.  Nearly  all  the  Union 
schools,  and  many  others  all  over  the  country,  containing  probably 
altogether  between  two  and  three  millions  of  scholars,  are  now  engaged 
in  the  study  of  these  lessons,  and  it  is  devoutly  looped  that  our  present 
happy  uniformity  may  continue  for  many  years  to  come. 

Having  pointed  out  some  of  the  principal  du-ections  in  which  the 
Union  has  exerted  its  influence  in  advancing  the  Sunday  school  cause, 
I  must  briefly  refer  to  the  other  organizations  which  are  engaged  in  a 
similar  work. 

The  Clim-ch  of  England  Sunday  School  Institute  was  established  in 
the  year  1843  with  the  object  of  promoting  the  extension  and  improve- 
ment of  Cliurch  of  England  Simday  schools,  and  is  supported  chiefly 
by  the  Evangelical  party  in  that  Chiu-ch. 

Its  methods  of  action  are  very  similar  to  those  adopted  by  the  Sunday 
School  U)-iion. 


43  Organized  Smxdaij  Scliool  Worlc : 

Its  cafcaloguo  of  publications  includes  a  high-class  magazine  for 
teachers,  one  for  Christian  workers,  and  one  for  scholars  ;  some  excellent 
notes  of  lessons  for  the  use  of  teachers,  caretidly  prepared  school 
requisites,  lesson  papers,  reading  books  for  junior  classes,  &c.,  &c.  It.s 
sales  last  year  amounted  to  £12,4;14'. 

The  Institute  has  363  associations  m  union,  but  does  not  give  a  li^t 
of  connected  schools. 

Two  organizing  secretaries  are  engaged  m  visitmg  the  several  associa- 
tions, preaehiug  sermons,  addi-essiug  the  teachers,  and  giving  training 
lessons.  They  report  that  there  is  abundant  evidence  of  improvement 
in  the  schools  generally. 

Like  the  Simday  School  Union,  the  Institute  has  a  Bible  Eeadiug 
Union,  a  system  of  examinations  for  teachers,  a  reference  hbrary  and 
readuig  room. 

It  does  not  take  part  in  the  International  Lessons,  and  did  not  see  its 
way  to  join  in  the  present  Convention,  but  it  does  unite  with  the 
teachers  of  other  denommatious  in  keeping  the  special  days  of  inter- 
cession on  behalf  of  Sunday  schools. 

The  Wesleyan  Simday  School  Union  was  established  in  the  year 
1875.  Its  pubhcations  are  of  a  first-rate  character.  Its  sales  last  year 
amounted  to  £16,270.  Its  excellent  secretary,  Eev.  C.  H.  Kelly,  is  dili- 
gently occupied  in  preaching  on  behalf  of  Sunday  schools,  addressing 
teachers,  and  holding  children's  services.  It  pubhshes  fuU  and  complete 
statistics  of  Wesleyan  Smiday  schools,  and  it  imites  with  the  Sunday 
School  Union  in  the  list  of  Scriptm-e  readings,  which  includes  the  Inter- 
national Lessons,  and  also  m  the  special  days  of  prayer.  Many  of  the 
Wesleyan  schools  are  also  connected  with  the  Sunday  School  Union. 

The  Primitive  Methodist  Sunday  School  Union  was  established  in 
1874',  and  its  cliief  object  seems  to  be  the  compilation  of  the  annual 
statistical  report  to  the  Conference.  It  co-operates  heartily  with  our 
Union  in  reference  to  the  days  of  prayer  and  the  International  Lessons, 
and  most  of  the  Primitive  Methodist  schools  throughout  the  country 
are  in  membership  with  us. 

The  Sunday  School  Association  is  a  union  of  Unitarian  Sunday 
schools.  Its  pubhcations  mclude  two  magazines  for  children,  together 
with  a  hymn  and  time  book,  and  various  school  requisites,  and  it  gives 
grants  of  books  to  needy  schools.  It  has  17  associations  or  miions,  and 
272  schools  in  the  United  Kuigdom  m  connection. 

These  four  societies  exhaust  the  list  of  denominational  unions.  The 
Baptistsj  Congregationahsts,  Presbyterians,  and  others  find  no  difficulty 
in  workmg  together,  both  in  the  matter  of  pubhcations,  meetings,  and 
general  work  ;  and,  indeed,  ui  many  respects  they  believe  tliat  the 
unsectarian  method  of  working  the  Sunday  school  department  has  con- 
siderable advantages  over  the  denominational  method,  allowing  as  it 
does  facihties  for  local  co-operation,  and  tendmg  to  promote  a  kindly 
feehng  among  Cliristians  of  all  sects  and  parties. 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  express  the  gratification  felt  by  the  Com- 


0)1  llic  Continrnt  of  Earopr.  43 

aiittco  of  Uic  Smul.iy  Scliaol  Union  in  ivcciviufj  llio  clialloiigc  of  (lie 
Cliicngo  Convention  to  arnnigo  for  a  world's  coinciitiDii  of  SiiikImv 
school  workers  in  London. 

This  work  is  not  new  to  ns.  The  fh-st  International  Sunday  School 
Convention  ever  licld  was  convened  in  London  h}'  the  Union  in  1S02, 
when  Dr.  Vincent,  now  Bishop  Vincent,  and  Alliert  Wooch-uff  of 
Brooklyn,  with  other  friends  from  America,  Europe,  and  our  Colonies 
were  present,  and  a  delightful  timo  Avas  cxjicricuced. 

In  1880,  wo  called  together  another  International  Convention 
to  celebrate  the  centenary  of  Sunday  schools,  and  many  present  will 
remember  tlie  pleasant  intercoiu'se  and  the  usefiU.  discussions  which 
characterized  that  immense  and  enthusiastic  gatheruigof  Sunday  school 
workers  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 

And  now  for  the  third  time  we  have  issued  a  world-wide  summons 
to  Sunday  school  friends,  and  we  heartily  welcome  them  here  to-day, 
saying,  in  the  language  of  Cornelius,  "  Thou  hast  well  done  that  thou 
art  come." 

Once  again  we  meet  together,  not  to  boast  of  our  numbers,  efficiency, 
or  success,  but  to  take  counsel  together,  to  confess  our  faults  to  one 
another,  to  compare  plans,  to  suggest  improvements,  and  to  pray 
together  that  in  the  future  we  may  do  better  than  in  the  past,  and  be 
privileged  to  witness  niore  abundant  triumphs  of  the  Gospel  among  the 
young  people  committed  to  our  care. 

Bretlu'cn,  we  have  much  to  encoui-age  and  stimulate  us.  Wo  call 
tliis  a  world's  convention,  and  so  it  is,  but  it  is  not  confmcd  to  this 
world.  Heavenl}-  visitors  are  looking  down  npon  us,  and  fellow 
labourers  who  have  jDassed  away  are  regarding  ns  witli  sympathetic 
interest.  Above  all,  the  Master  is  with  us,  and  if  we  duly  estimate  the 
blessedness  of  this  privilege,  and  thankfully  avaU  ourselves  of  all  that  it 
involves,  our  Sunday  School  Convention  will  be  a  glorious  success. 

The  Phesident  :  I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  Mr. 
Edwards,  the  Superintendent  of  Sundaj'  school  Contmental  Missions, 
who  will  in  a  few  minutes  give  you  the  particulars  of  the  work  he  is 
doing. 

ORGANIZED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  ON  THE 
CONTINENT  OF  EUROPE. 

Faper  read  by  Me.  T.  Edwadds. 

"When  we  in  England  or  America  speak  of  organised  Sunday  school 
work,  we  at  once  picture  to  ourselves  comfortable,  well-arranged  school 
buildings,  committees  and  officers  of  various  ordei-s  for  regulating  the 
schools'  affairs,  bands  of  teachers  presiding  over  classified  groups  of 
scholars,  carefully  selected  libraries,  registers  and  records,  maps  and 
magazines,  and  all  the  material  necessary  for  the  purposes  of  instruction. 
Normal  and  pi-eparation  classes,  Christian  Bands  and  Bands  of  Hope, 


44  Orijanlzed  Sandaij  School  Wurh  : 

Sunday  School  Unions  and  Conventions,  and  the  thousand  and  one 
arrangements  and  instrumcntaUtios  -wluch  go  to  make  up  what  wo 
generally  call,  sometimes  perhaps,  a  little  too  complacently,  "  Om- 
Sunday  School  System."  Now,  using  the  term  "organised"  with  this 
wide  significance  and  application,  it  characterises  the  Sunday  school 
\\  oi"k  of  the  Continent  as  j'et  in  only  a  modified  degree,  and  we  shall, 
therefore,  in  the  present  paper  have  to  allude  to  things  that  are  not 
quite  as  much  as  to  those  that  ore. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  when  the  London  Sunday  School  Union  began 
its  Continental  Mission,  whose  sole  object  from  the  first  has  been  to 
foster  and  assist  the  Sunday  school  enterjirise  of  the  Continent  in  every 
way  possible,  there  were  comparatively  very  few  schools.  Tlie  great 
majority  •\\ere  small,  weak,  widely-scattered,  without  means  of  cohesion 
or  intercomniiuiication,  very  defective  in  aU  their  arrangements  and 
appliances,  and  necessarily  exerting  little  appreciable  influence  upon  the 
people  aniong  whom  they  were  placed.  There  were,  besides,  no  mis- 
sionaries, no  unions,  no  confederations  for  puttuig  forth  organised 
sustained  effort  for  the  promotion  and  extension  of  the  cause.  Immense 
progress  has,  however,  been  made  since  then,  and  especially  within  the 
last  ten  years,  and  while  we  endeavom-to  point  out  what  is  still  lacking, 
we  shall  also  indicate  in  what  manner  and  to  what  extent  that  progi-ess 
has  been  manifesting  itself.  In  doing  so  we  shall  present  what  we  have 
to  say  under  the  following  heads  : — 

Stmdai/  School  Accommodation. — Internal  Arranffements.—Seqtusiies 
for  Work. — Accessories  and  Auxiliaries. 

First,  then,  as  to  Accommodation.  Contiuental  schools,  as  a  rule,  do 
not  meet  in  premises  that  have  been  specially  erected  or  intended  for 
Sunday  school  pm-poses,  except  in  very  rare  instances.  They  assemble, 
for  the  most  part,  in  places  of  worship,  where  the  pastors  and  church 
officers  are  in  favom'  of  the  movement ;  in  pubUc  halls  and  hired  rooms, 
the  expenses  of  which  are  frequently  met  by  the  voluntary  offerings  of 
the  teachers  and  scholars  week  by  week ;  in  day  school  buildings,  in 
workshops,  private  hovises,  peasants'  huts,  barns,  and  sometimes  in 
tents,  and  even  in  the  woods,  in  parishes  where  the  ecclesiastical  autho- 
rities are  indifferent  or  hostile,  and  will  not  allow  a  room  or  cottage  to 
be  had.  These  latter,  of  course,  can  only  be  held  in  smnmer.  Here 
and  there  a  hall  or  room  has  been  purposely  designed  for  a  Simday 
school,  but  such  cases  are  few  in  number.  We  may  refer  to  two  or 
tlu-ee  by  way  of  illustration.  About  two  years  ago  tlie  Baptists  in 
Berlin  built  a  handsome,  commodious  chapel  on  the  east  side  of  the 
city,  imder  which  is  a  lofty,  hglit  and  any  room  for  the  Sunday  school, 
where  an  average  of  500  scholars  meets  in  twenty-six  classes,  and  at  one 
end  of  which  are  other  two  pleasant  apartments  reserved  for  the  infant 
and  senior  sections.  Again,  in  Lausanne,  connected  with  the  Methodist 
"  ChapeUe  du  Yalentin  "  is  a  large,  comfortable  room  for  the  use  of  the 
general  school,  and  a  separate  one  for  the  infants,  the  whole  numbering 
an  average  attendance  of  over  400  in  twentv-seven  classes.      Pastor 


Oil  llir  Ciniliiiriil  of  Europe.  4T^ 

Svciisoii,  of  iSlotkliuliii,  liii.s  a  iiitr  liltk;  liall  bolongini^  to  liis  cluii-ck 
wliich  serves  for  the  acconiinodation  cvciy  Sunday  of  two  entirely 
different  schools  of  200  children  each,  morning  and  afternoon  respec- 
tively, both  being  worked  by  the  same  stall' of  teachers.  Now  and  then 
one  finds  a  school  that  has  been  put  \ip  solely  as  theontconic  of  private 
nuniificence.  Pasteur  Bovet,  of  the  Free  Cluu-ch  in  Berne,  has  a  very 
pretty  building  of  this  kind  in  his  garden.  Besides  the  large  hull,  there 
are  three  good-sized  class-rooms  on  the  upper  storey,  opening  into  the 
gallery  of  the  former,  and  a  smaller  one  behind  for  the  youngest  scholars. 
A  few  years  ago  we  had  the  privilege  of  spending  a  Sunday  in  Utrecht 
with  the  late  Mr.  Van  Asch  van  Wyck,  who  had  put  up  a  well-appointed 
room  behind  his  house,  in  wliicli  three  schools  met  at  differeut  hours  to 
suit  the  convenience  of  different  classes  of  society,  one  being  snperui- 
tended  by  himself,  one  by  his  wife,  and  one  by  his  daughter.  At  Valen- 
tigney,  in  tlie  south-east  of  France,  the  late  Mens.  Pengeot  built  a 
handsome  hall  in  his  gi-ounds  that  will  hold  300  people,  and  is  used 
throughout  the  week  for  various  evangelistic  purposes.  His  daughter, 
who  continues  his  good  work,  has  a  Sunday  school  of  150  children, 
arranged  in  ten  classes,  in  the  semicircular,  or  Amei'ican,  style.  Now, 
when  Christian  brethren  erect  buildings  for  their  Sunday  schools  en- 
tirely at  their  own  expense,  it  is  a  proof  at  least  of  great  interest  in  the 
cause.  But  such  cases  are  necessarily  very  exceptional.  Two  reasons 
may  be  advanced  for  the  fact  that  Sunday  school  buildings  on  the  Con- 
tinent are  still  so  few.  First,  that  many  churches  have  not  yet  risen  to 
a  true  conception  of  the  work,  and  of  their  accountability  in  regard  to  it, 
and  so  have  failed  to  make  adequate  provision  for  it ;  and,  second,  because 
the  truly  Christian  people — that  is,  those  whose  religion  is  not  a  mere 
matter  of  superstition,  or  family  tradition,  or  ecclesiastical  obsei-vances, 
hut  a  hving  principle  controlling  tlie  heart  and  life — are  not  only  com- 
jiaratively  few  in  number,  but  are  very  poor ;  for,  unfortunately,  the 
wealth  of  the  Continent  is  in  wrong  hands  even  to  a  greater  extent  than 
is  the  case  in  England.  Having  both  then*  home  work  and  then'  foreign 
work  among  the  heathen  to  pi-ovide  for,  these  Christian  laboui-ers,  by 
reason  of  their  paucity  of  numbers  and  of  their  poverty,  are  over- 
weighted by  their  responsibilities. 

We  pass  now  to  om*  second  head. 

II.  Internal  Arrangonents. 

Hundreds  of  Continental  schools  are  in  scattered  villages  or  hamlets, 
•where,  perhaps,  only  a  single  Christian  man  or  woman  is  found  to 
gather  the  young  together  on  Sunday  for  religious  instruction.  In 
such  cases  each  has  to  be  superintendent,  secretary,  and  teacher  all  in 
one.  There  are  not  a  few,  even  of  one  to  two  hundred  scholars,  that 
are  thus  conducted  by  one  person  only.  In  the  larger  town  and  city 
schools,  and  especially  in  the  older  established  ones,  besides  the  super- 
intendent taking  general  oversight  there  is  frequently  a  secretary  also, 
where  any  attempt  at  book-keeping  is  made,  and  occasionally,  as  a  kind 
of  "rara  avis,"  a  librarian,  if  anything  like  a  library  exists.     In  veiy 


46  Organized  Snndaij  Scliool  Worlc : 

many  instances  the  pastoi-  acts  as  superiutendent.     Tliis  is  more  com- 
monly the  case  among  the  clergy  of  the  State  clua-ches  than  among  the 
ministers  of  the  free  commmiitics,  and  arises  partly  from  jealousy  of,  or 
indifference  to  lay  help  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  a  feeling,  on  the 
other,  that  those  whom  they  have  to  call  aronnd  them  as  teachers  are 
not  siifRciently  instructed  nor  qualified  for  their  work.     Bible  teaching 
has  been  so  much  neglected  in  past  years  that  there  is  great  ignorance 
of  Bible  truth  even  among  so-called  Christian  people.     Moreovei*,  these 
helpers  are  chiefly  females,  generally  very  young,  and  though  earnest 
and  wishful  to  do  good,  are  yet  almost  entu-ely  without  any  requisite 
training.     Hence,  very  often  the  pastors  reserve  to  themselves  the  duty 
of  teaching  and  applying  the  spii'itual  truths  of  the  lesson,  "whUe  the 
teachers — or  monitors,  as  we  should  rather  call  them — instruct  the 
scholars  in  the  mere  verbal  facts,  the  meaning  of  the  text,  the  history, 
geogi'aphy,  &c.,  assist  in  keeping  order  and  marking  the  attendances, 
and  sometimes  are  allowed  to  examine  the  children  on  what  the  pastor 
has   said   the  pi-evious    Sunday.     The   paucity   of  teachers   and   the 
difficulty  of  finding  them  constitute  one  of  the  greatest  hindrances  to 
tlie  work.     It  is  not  unusual  for  our  missionaries  to  report  as  follows  : 
"  There  are  several  districts  in  this  province  where  there  is  not  a  single 
Sunday  school,  nor  a  single  Christian  man  or  woman  to  take  charge  of 
one."     "At  D.  the  teaching  is  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  young 
women  ;  as  for  the  males,  they  are  conspicuous  by  theu*  absence." 
"  Our  worst  perplexity  is  to  get  teachei-s  adapted  to  the  work.     The 
children  come  in  crowds,  but  what  shall  we  do  when  no  one  is  to  be 
found  who  can  instruct  them  ?  "     "  Most  of  the  villages  in  the  province 
of  F.  are  large,  and  greatly  need  religious  development,  and  were  it  not 
so  difficult  to  procure  teachers,  many  new  schools  might  be  formed." 
This  testimony  is  from  different  countries,  Protestant  as  well  as  Catho- 
lic.    The  difficulty,  however,  is  becoming  less  each  year,  inasmuch  as 
the  Sunday  School  Institution  is  training  its  own  workei-s,  for  the 
majority  of  the  present  teachers  have  tliemselves  been  scholars,  and  in 
due  time  it  will  be  said  of  the  Continent,  as  we  can  say  of  England  to- 
day, that  88  per  cent,  of  the  teachers  liave  received  their  impulse  and 
training  wliile  attending  the  school  as  pupils. 

The  highest  qualification  for  teaching — personal  piety — is  as  a  rule 
more  sought  for  and  insisted  iipon  among  the  Free  than  the  Stati* 
churches,  though  there  are  of  com-se  notable  exceptions  on  both  sides. 
Not  a  few  teachers  give  evidence  of  their  zeal  and  self-denial,  and  try 
to  make  up  in  some  measure  for  the  lack  of  numbers  by  taking  a  class 
in  then'  own  Home  or  Chm-ch  school  in  the  morning,  and  assisting  in 
some  outside  or  mission  school  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day ;  each 
having  but  one  session  only. 

The  Classification  of  scholars  in  those  schools,  Avhether  small  or  large, 
which  have  only  one  or  two  teachers  is  out  of  the  question.  In  eases 
where  it  is  attempted,  the  cliildi-en  are  generally  divided  into  groixps  of 
from  ten  to  twenty,  accordiug  to   accommodation  and  teachers   at 


0)1  the  Cniiliuiiil  of  Eiiropp.  47 

c'OiiimaiRl.  Very  many  schools  arc  small,  with  twenty  tu  tlurty 
scholars  in  three  or  four  classes  ;  others  again  arc  large,  numbering 
SOO  to  1000,  and  even  more,  the  latter  assembling  only  in  spacious 
cluu-clics  or  jniblie  halls.  Of  these  wc  may  mention  Sir.  Diindliker'a 
school  in  the  Junkergasse,  Berne,  whicli  has  800  young  people  iu  92 
classes,  and  one  meeting  in  the  Zionskirche,  Bci'lin,  with  1300  in 
SO  classes.  The  grouping  is  mostly  done  according  to  age  and  attain- 
ments, as  is  generally  the  case  in  England.  Such  large  schools  as  we 
have  referred  to  are  divided  into  the  infant  and  what  we  shoidd  call  the 
lower  and  upper  Scripture  sections.  There  is  no  need  for  the  old- 
ftishioned  elementary  division,  such  as  we  had  formerly  in  many  of  our 
schools,  as  most  children  from  six  years  old  are  well  able  to  read.  On 
the  other  hand,  with  comparatively  few  exceptions,  there  is  no  senior 
department,  because  at  twelve  to  fourteen  years  of  age  boys  and  girls 
are  expected — and  in  some  countries  can  be  compelled  by  law — to 
attend  catechumen  classes  and  prepare  for  confirmation,  after  which, 
imfortunatcly,  very  many  forget  to  come  back  to  school.  Others, 
however,  do  return,  and  are  foi*med  into  senior  and  sometimes  into 
normal  classes.  It  is  a  gi-atifying  circimistance  also  that  the  Yoimg 
Peoples'  Christian  Associations  are  working  cordially  with  the  Sunday 
school,  and  arc  getting  hold  of  tliose  who  have  drifted  away  after 
confirmation. 

Tlie  Devotional  Exercises  vary  considerably  as  to  length,  method, 
and  adaptability,  consisting,  as  with  us,  of  praise,  reading  of  Scripture, 
nnd  prayer,  extemporary,  or  more  or  less  liturgical.  The  mode  of  con- 
ducting the  school  depends  upon  the  greater  or  less  part  wliicli  the 
pastor  or  superintendent  takes  in  the  teacliing.  In  many  schools  the 
position  of  tlie  teachers  is,  iu  our  estimation,  too  subordinate  and 
inferior,  they  do  not  in  consequence  properly  realise  the  importance  of 
their  work,  and  are  natm-ally  tempted  to  carelessness  and  pcrfunctori- 
ness.  Yet  we  can  testify  that  multitudes  of  our  Continental  bretln-en 
and  sisters  fulfil  their  duty  under  enormous  difficulties  with  a  con- 
sistency,  ardour,  and  self-sacrifice  that  would  put  to  the  blush  not  a 
lew  of  their  more  privileged  western  compeers. 

As  to  behaviour,  their  schools  on  the  average  do  more  tlinu  bear 
favourable  comparison  with  our  own.  This  is  partly  due  to  the  fact 
that  Continental  children  still  retain  greater  respect  for  parental 
authority  than  do  those  of  England  and  America  in  these  indulgent 
days,  and  also  because  many  of  the  fathers,  having  been  more  or  less 
mider  military  training,  have  carried  the  spirit  of  discipline  and  drill 
into  the  home,  and  so  into  the  school.  jS^otwithstanding  many  existing 
defects,  yet  here  and  there  are  schools  that,  iu  regard  to  organisation, 
classification,  methods,  discipline,  &c.,  are  quite  equal  to  any  of  ours, 
and  what  is  possible  in  the  case  of  these,  may,  in  God's  good  time,  be 
possible  in  the  case  of  all.  Such  schools  are  chiefly  in  the  hands  of 
friends  who  have  become  personally  acquainted  with  English  or 
American  schools,  and  with  our  literature.  As  illustrations,  we  would 
gladly   name  several,   in  diflereut  countries,  did  time  permit,  which 


48  Organized  Sunday  School  WorJi : 

present  all  the  elements  that  comprise  the  strength  of  English  and 
American  schools,— intelligent,  practical  superintendents,  pious,  earnest 
teachers,  appropriate,  -vvell-rendered,  devotional  exercises,  order  and 
attention  everything  that  could  be  wished,  good  book-keeping,  systematic 
visitation,  weekly  preparation  class,  lesson  reviews,  and  all  the  character- 
istics that  most  of  iis  are  so  familiar  with. 
III. — Requisites  for  Work. 

Many  schools  have  no  Bibles,  and  many  others  have  but  few,  because 
the   childi'en   and  their   parents  are  too  poor  to   buy  them,  or  the 
chm'ches — where  they  are  connected  with  churches — are  too  unconcenied 
to  supply  them.     In  many  cases  copies  of  one  of  the  gospels,  or  of 
single  books  of  the  Scriptiu-es  are  used,  because  they  are  cheap,  while 
in  others,  picture   leaflets  containing  the   lesson  verses,  daily  home- 
readings,  and  a  few  questions  fiu-nished  thi-ough  the  assistance  of  the 
Continental  mission,   are  the   only    substitutes   within   reach   of  the 
scholars.      Twenty-five  years    ago  hymn   and    time  books   specially 
adapted  to  Sunday  school  uses  were  almost  non-existent,  whereas  now 
there  is  quite  a  variety.     Some  of  our  Continental  friends  are  very 
wishful  that  they  should  be  distinctively  national  in  their  charactei', 
Dutch,  French,  Grerman,  &c.,  as  the  case  may  be,  yet  they  are  compelled 
to  admit  that  those  of  English  or  American  origin  somehow  please  the 
most  and  sell  the  best.     Sunday  School  Records  and  Systematic  Book- 
keeping   are  not  often  met  with,  hence    obtaining  statistics  that  are 
sufficiently  complete  and  reliable  is  not  an  easy  task.     Eor  several  years 
past  the  Contmental  Mission  Committee  has  been  bringuig  pressure  to 
bear  in  this  matter,  and  now  the  figm-es  siipplied  by  their  missionaries 
with  then-  quarterly  reports  ai-e  much  fuller  and  more  satisfactory  than 
formerly.     Sunday  School  Libraries  are  very  few  and  far  between,  and 
indeed  suitable  hterature,  in  the  various  langiiages  of  the  Continent,  is 
yet  to  a  great  extent  a  thing  of  the  future.     Text   books.  Scripture 
manuals,  lesson  helps  of  all  kinds,  such  as  are  provided  for  English 
teachers  in  a  cheap  and  popidar  form,  and  hi  such  great  variety  by  the 
Sunday  School  Union  and  kindred  societies,  are  almost  entirely  lacking 
and  need  to  be  supplied.     An  immense  sphere  of  iisefidness  presents 
itself  in  this  respect,  which  could  be  wrought  with  great  advantage 
Avere  suSicient  fmids  forthcoming.     One  object  which  the  Continental 
Mission  has  kept  steadily  in  view  from  the  first,  has  been  to  help  in 
creating  and  sustaining  good  Sunday  school  magazines  and  periodicals. 
When  it  began,  so  far  as  we  know,  there  were  only  two  in  existence, 
— one   published  by   the  American  Methodist   Episcopal  Mission  in 
Bremen,  and  the  "Lectures  pour  les  Enfants,"  just  started  by  the 
Lausanne  committee,  whereas  now  there  are  fidly  a  score  that  may 
be  considered  as  adapted  to  Sunday  school  pm-poses  and  not  intended 
mei'ely  for  general  readers.     Some  of  them  have  proved  of  gi-eat  utility, 
and,  were  it  not  that  some  agencies  flood  the  Contment  with  magazines 
free  of  cost,  the  various  Committees  that  are  trying  to  meet  the  needs 
of  their  Sunday  schools  would  not  have  so  much  difiiculty  in  making 
theirs    self-supporting.     A    number  of   them    have    passed  through 


On  the  Continent  of  Europe.  49 

several  editions  and  have  been  givatly  improved  and  enlarged  froiu 
time  to  time. 

Coming  to  the  last  head  : — 

IV.  Accessories  and  Aiixiliaries,  we  would  first  remark  that   the 
Periodical  Visitation  of  seholars  by  the  teachers,  though  practised  to 
some  extent,  is  by  no  means  general.     This  is  not  owing  to  lack  ot 
interest  on  their  part,  but  simply  because  it  is  impossible  in  numerous 
cases,  on  account  of  the  wide  dissemination  of  families  in  many  districts 
and  of  the  very  late  working  hoiu-s  of  the  Continent.     For  the  same 
reasons  Teachers'  Meetings  and  Preparation  Classes  cannot  under  such 
circumstances   be  regularly   convened.      Nevertheless,   in   the    better 
organized   schools    these   are  part  of  their   regime,   especially   where 
teachers   are  numerous  enough  and  within  reasonable  reach   of  one 
another.     In  fact,  so  far  as  preparation  classes  are  concerned,  in  pi"0- 
portion  to  the  number  of  schools  and  teachers,    they  are  far  more 
common  than  in  England,  notwithstanding  that  here  the  Sunday  School 
Union  for  forty  years  and  more  has  been  advocating  tlieu-  necessity  and 
usefulness.     It  has  frequently  been  our  privilege  and  pleasure  to  visit 
such  classes,  and  two  features  have  specially  struck  us  as  interesting  : — 
first,  that  a  larger  percentage  of  the  teachers  employed  attend  than  is 
generally  the  case  here  ;  and,  second,  that  the  ladies  take  a  much  freer 
part  in  answering  and  asking  questions  than  amongst  us.     At  the 
Ziouskirche,  Berlin,  we  one  evening  found  seventy-five  present  out  of 
the  eighty  who  work  the  school  of  1300  children,  and  this,  we  were 
told,  was  quite  within  the  general  average.     On  another  occasion  we 
met  with  the  teachei-s  superintended  by  our  honoured  friend  Count  von 
Bernstorfi',  when   nuie  were  in  attendance  out  of  the  ten  composing 
his   staff".      Pasteiu'  Ernest  Monod  of  Mazamet,   department  of  the 
Tarn,  France,  has  a  pi-eparation  class  weekly,  which  he  conducts  with 
great  zeal  and  competence,  and  when  any  members  are  absent  he  sends 
them  next  day  copies  of  his  notes  of  tlie  lesson,  and  as  a  consequence 
very  rarely  are  any  away,  as  they  naturally  wish  to  avoid  giving  him 
that  trouble.     This  good  attendance  is  attributable  to  two  causes — 
consciousness  on  the  part  of  the  teachers  that  they  need  tlie  help  of 
the  class,  and  anxiety  on  that  of  many  pastors,  who  have  not  sufficient 
confidence  in  the  Scriptural  knowledge  and  capacity  of  their  teachers, 
to  render  them  such  assistance  as  they  can  by  such  means. 

Wliere  elder  scholars  are  being  retauied  beyond  fom-teen  or  fifteen 
years  of  age  they  are  being  formed  into  Normal  Classes,  in  order  to 
midergo  some  training  for  the  work  of  teaching.  Thus  Madame  Bovet 
of  the  Free  Church  in  Berne  has  a  class  of  young  women  front  fifteen 
to  eighteen  years  of  age.  At  Query,  iu  France,  where  there  are  scholars 
up  to  twenty-two  years  old,  there  is  a  normal  class  for  those  above 
fifteen  from  which  the  ranks  of  the  teachers  are  recruited,  and  in  the 
Chapelle  de  Luxembourg,  Paris,  there  are  two  such  classes,  one  for 
either  sex,  in  which  all  the  present  teachers  have  been  trained. 

One  peculiarity  of  Continental  schools  is  their  Christmas  trees,  or 


50  Organized  Sunday  School  Work  : 

Christmas  and  New  Year  festivals,  wliich  are  held  not  only  for 
encouraging  or  awarding  the  children,  but  also  for  exciting  the  interest 
and  sympathy  of  parents  and  other  outsiders. 

When  the  Continental  Mission  was  inaugiu-ated  the  Committee  at 
once  soiight  for  likely  men  as  Missionaries  to  be  employed  in  establish- 
ing schools.  The  two  first  were  Mr.  Brockelmann  of  Heidelberg,  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Woodruff  of  Brooklyn,  and  Mons.  Jaulmes-Cook  of 
Lausanne,  who  continued  theu'  labours  with  conspicuous  ability  for 
seventeen  and  twenty  years  respectively.  There  are  now  seventeen 
such  missionaries,  natives  of  the  countries  in  which  they  carry  on  their 
operations,  who  not  only  organise  new  schools  when  possible,  but  visit 
and  encourage  existing  ones,  aid  and  stimulate  the  oificers  and  teachers, 
form  and  often  conduct  preparation  classes,  preach  on  the  Christian 
upbringing  of  the  young,  take  pai-t  in  various  evangelistic  xmdertakings, 
assist  in  editing  magaziues  and  writing  articles  and  lesson-notes,  and 
have  proved  themselves  men  full  of  courage,  perseverance,  and  loyalty 
to  the  cause,  and  deserving  our  highest  confidence  and  esteem.  These 
brethren  are  placed  under  the  supervision  of  committees,  two  of  which, 
those  in  Paris  and  Lausanne,  were  already  in  existence  when  the 
Mission  commenced,  and  with  whicli  it  at  once  entered  into  relation. 
Apart  from  these  it  had  at  first  to  work  thi'oiigh  individuals  as  it  coidd 
find  them,  but  one  essential  part  of  its  pohcy  all  the  way  through  has 
been  to  get  committees  appointed  to  ensui-e  more  efiective  organisation 
and  oversight.  The  fii'st  was  the  State  Church  Committee  in  BerUn 
with  the  late  venerable  Dr.  Prochnow  as  president,  which  was  followed 
by  othei's  in  due  course  at  Amsterdam,  Berne,  Geneva,  and  Neuchatel. 
In  1872  the  first  for  Sweden  was  formed  at  Orebro,  siTCcceded  shortly 
after  by  those  at  Stockholm  and  SundsvaU,  and  four  years  ago  others 
were  constituted  at  Hamburg  and  Bei'lin  to  look  after  tlie  work  in 
connection  with  the  Free  Churches  in  Germany. 

One  marked  effect  of  the  labours  of  the  missionaries  and  of  the  over- 
sight exercised  by  these  committees  is  that  a  spirit  of  tniiou  has  been 
promoted,  schools  are  no  longer  left  to  feel  themselves  as  mere  units, 
and  the  workers  are  animated  and  strengthened  by  the  bond  thus 
created  among  them. 

These  committees,  thi-ough  the  assistance  of  the  missionaries  on  theii* 
journeys,  have  been  creating  Provincial  Committees  and  Unions  wher- 
ever the  work  has  grown  sufficiently  for  such  a  j)urpose.  Thei'c  are 
already  forty -eight  of  these  in  Holland,  twenty-eight  or  thu-ty  in  Sweden, 
of  which  eight  are  aSiUated  with  the  Orebro,  and  fifteen  with  the 
Stockholm  Unions,  twenty  in  France,  six  in  the  Canton  de  Yaud,  and 
several  in  Germany  and  elsewhere.  They  arrange  for  Occasional  or 
Annual  Conferences  in  their  several  provinces  and  districts,  and  are 
assisting,  through  the  impulse  received  from  headquarters,  in  imparting 
an  organized  character  to  the  Sunday  school  work  of  the  Continent  m 
all  its  departments.  But,  while  lurging  them  to  this  course,  we  must 
not  presume,  however,  to  impose  upon  them  an  institution,  which  is 


On  the  ('i)iilliiciil  I >f  Europe.  51 

])t.'iuliarlv  lMigli>li  ov  American,  always  and  fViT}  wlit'ri'  in  exactly  the 
ibrni  which  it  takes  among  om'selves.  Its  great  commendation  is  its 
flexibility,  its  capacity  to  adapt  itself  to  every  variety  of  circumstances 
and  siu-roundings.  It  must  bo  left,  therefore,  to  shape  itself  according 
to  the  diverse  conditions,  exigencies,  habits,  and  needs  of  various  lands. 

As  before  stated,  the  work  has  been  making  steady  progress,  espe- 
cially since  ISSO.  The  lowest  estimate,  based  upon  statistics  prepared 
in  great  part  purposely  for  this  Convention,  presents  now  a  grand  total 
of  11,729  schools,  57,11G  teachers,  and  1,023,150  scholars.* 

In  conclusion  we  bespeak  your  prayerful,  fraternal  sympathy  on 
behalf  of  the  Sunday  school  laboiu-ers  of  the  Continent,  who,  in  the  face 
of  great  obstacles  and  discouragements,  keep  heart,  maintain  a  resolute 
faith,  and  manifest  a  heroism,  self-denial,  and  fidelity  that  command 
our  highest  admiration  and  reverence.  S  ball  not,  then,  the  schools  of 
Great  Britain,  the  United  States,  and  the  Colonies,  as  represented  in 
this  imposing  Convention,  in  a  spirit  of  hearty  federation  and  of 
generous  rivahy,  miite  in  sustaining  these  co-workers,  alike  by  their 
jnoney,  their  sympathy,  and  their  prayers,  in  the  full  assurance  that 
the  teaching  of  God's  Word  to  the  young  by  means  of  the  Sabbath 
school  is  yet  to  be,  imder  God,  one  of  the  mightiest  agencies— if  not 
the  mightiest — for  workmg  out  the  moral  uplifting  and  spii'itual  regene- 
ration of  the  nations  of  Em-ope,  and  in  hastening  the  glad  time  when, 
by  the  attractive  power  of  His  Gospel  and  the  sublune  force  of  His 
sympathy  and  love,  the  Lord  of  all  in  Heaven  and  earth  will  have 
completed  His  redemption  work,  and  drawn  all  menwnio  Himself? 

Fapcr  read  hy  Pastor  BACnatAN  {Orehrii). 
r>oar  Brethren  and  FeUow-workoi's, — 

"From  yiiu  soiuicIlhI  out  the  Word  of  the  Lord." 

It  was  not  yesterday  that  Sweden  heard  that  sound  from  across  the 
North  Sea. 

It  is  about  one  thousand  years  ago  since  an  Englishman,  Sigfrid, 
brought  the  Bible  from  England  to  Sweden,  preachmg  the  Gospel  to 
the  Swedish  Gentiles,  and  baptizing  its  first  Christian  king,  Olaf  Skot- 
kommg. 

Sigfrid  never  returned  home  to  liis  own  countiy,  but  laid  down  his 
life  for  Sweden  in  the  service  of  Christ. 

In  latter  times,  thousands  upon  thousands  of  Bibles  and  New  Testa- 
ments, by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  have  been  brought  to 
our  countiy. 

And,  at  last,  England,  by  the  Sunday  School  Union,  56,  Old  BaQey, 
has  presented  to  the  Swedish  children  the  valuable  gift  of  a  Sunday 
School  Bible. 

*  For  Continental  Statiaticij  SbE  "i5iuiday  I?chools  Statistics  of  all 
Kations  "  in  the  Aiipcndix. 

E  2 


52  Organized  Sunday  School  WorJc  : 

At  the  beginning  of  tLe  present  century  Sweden  did  not  know  what 
Dissenters  wei-e ;  this  was  also  a  thing  which  Sweden  had  to  learn  from 
England.  About  1820  an  EngUsh  engineer,  ]Mi\  Owen,  came  over  to 
our  country.  He  built  the  first  steamboat  in  Sweden,  and  introduced 
mechanical  industiy  upon  a  scale  till  then  unknown  there. 

Having  been  in  oui*  country  for  some  time,  he  felt  aggrieved  at  the 
prevailing  spiritual  darkness  and  ungodliness,  and  sent  to  England  for 
a  missionary. 

Pastor  George  Scott  came  as  a  messenger  of  Christ  from  you,  and 
labom*ed  for  twelve  yeai-s  in  Stockholm  with  great  success,  though 
liaving  to  endm-e  cruel  persecution,  and,  at  last,  he  was  banished  from 
our  country. 

But  his  work  could  not  be  banished.  It  is  from  his  work  we  may 
trace  the  origin  of  the  Eree  Church  movements  in  Sweden,  and  to-day 
the  Dissenters  in  om-  country  amount  to  about  150,000  souls. 

In  the  year  1873  another  Englishman  came  over  to  Sweden.  His 
name,  Mr.  Matthew  W.  Ricliards,  is  very  highly  esteemed  among  us. 

By  his  visit,  which  was  renewed  in  1885,  the  Sunday  school  work 
in  Sweden  received  an  effective  impulse,  which  will  be  manifested  by 
the  following  historical  development  of  the  Swedish  Sunday  school 
work,  and  especially  the  work  connected  with  Oi'ebro  Sunday  School 
Union. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  Sunday  School  work  in  our  country  was 
scarcely  begun.  Some  few  private  Chi-istians,  moved  by  the  love  of 
Clirist  to  do  something  for  the  welfare  of  neglected  children,  had  com- 
menced something  hke  Sunday  Schools. 

At  that  time  there  were  not  yet  any  Dissentmg  churches  in  the 
country,  except  that  of  the  Baptists,  who  at  that  period  were  but  few 
and  weak.  Their  first  statistical  reports  of  the  year  1866  show  that,  in 
connection  with  theii*  churches,  there  were  53  Simday  Schools,  attended 
by  1,719  scholars  and  167  teachers.  The  Lutherans  never  have  taken- 
down  statistics  of  their  Schools,  this  work  among  them  being  considered 
as  a  mere  private  business.  In  the  Established  Church  it  is  then  im- 
possible at  all  to  fix  the  number  of  schools  and  scholars  of  this  early 
period.  They  can  only  state  that  some  httle  begimiings  were  being 
made  in  a  few  places. 

At  this  time  we  had  no  Sunday  School  Union  in  oiu'  coimtry.  (A 
strictly  Lutheran  one  was  established  in  Stockholm  in  the  year  186S, 
and  intended  only  for  the  capital.)  We  had  no  Sunday  School  mis- 
sionaries, no  religious  books  or  magazines  for  childi'en,  except  the 
Catechism,  no  teachers'  meetings,  and  no  cheap  Bibles. 

But  since  the  year  1872,  when  the  Sunday  School  Union  of  Orebro 
was  organized,  in  connection  with  oiu'  friend  Mr.  Kichards'  first  visit 
things  have  greatly  changed. 

By  yoiu"  liberal  contribution  toward  the  baby  union,  the  first  mis- 
sionary of  Sweden,  Mr.  Augustus  Palm,  was  sent  out  on  the  ist  of 
Augvist,  1873. 


Oh  tilt'  Covliiirnt  of  Fitn'jv'.  53 

At  present  lliei'c  are  at  least  fifteen  Sunday  seliool  nussionarics  at 
work  all  over  our  countrj',  and  as  a  result  of  their  labour  hundreds  of 
Sunday  schools  and  several  active  Sunday  School  Unions  have  been 
organised. 

Instead  of  the  one  Sunday  School  Union  of  1S72,  we  have  now  tlircc 
central  Unions,  viz.  at  Orcbro,  Stockholm,  and  Sundsvall,  with  their 
auxiliaries. 

Tims  the  Orebro  Union  lias  eight  auxiliaries  within  the  diflcrent 
provinces  of  Central  and  Southern  Sweden,  which  provinces  belong  to 
its  field  of  labour,  and  six  or  seven  missionaries  working  in  that  field. 
To  their  salaries  the  London  Sunday  School  Union  contributes  £170 
a  year. 

During  the  last  year  they  have  visited  831  Sunday  schools,  in  which 
are  instructed  35,737  children  by  3,056  teachers. 

They  have  organised  29  new  Sunday  schools  and  re-organised  GO. 
Together  they  have  held  2151  meetings,  and  travelled  13,650  miles. 
Suioe  1873  they  have  organised  about  500  schools  hi  did'crent  parts 
of  the  coimtry. 

Thus,  in  the  course  of  years,  your  missionaries  in  Sweden  have  done 
a  great  and  important  work.  Tlu-ough  their  meetings  and  lectures 
many  hearts  have  been  revived  into  zeal  for  the  Sunday  school  move- 
ments. 

Many  a  teacher,  standhig  alone,  and  working  under  great  difficulties, 
■which  tempted  to  despondency,  by  the  visit  of  the  missionary  has  felt 
encouraged  to  continue  his  work  with  confidence  and  hope. 

Many  Sunday  schools  have  reaped  the  fruits  of  such  a  visit  in  fresh 
additions  of  scholars  and  calling  in  of  more  teachers. 

Meetings  have  been  ari-anged,  libraries  have  been  furnished,  and 
Bible  reading  unions  have  been  organized. 

Many  a  Sunday  school  feast  has  gained  a  new  importance  from  the 
presence  of  the  missionary.  His  music,  his  songs,  and  pleasing  stories 
to  many  a  poor  child  of  humble  cottages  have  become,  as  it  were,  a 
message  of  angels  in  comparison  with  the  stern  prose  of  their  every-day 
life.  And  then,  what  a  contrast  to  the  quarrels,  oaths,  and  profana- 
tions which  many  witness  and  hear  in  their  homes  and  among  their 
associates. 

In  conclusion  :  Among  the  settlements  of  Finlanders  in  the  forests  of 
Wermland,  in  the  northern  mountain  districts  and  in  the  fertile  plains 
of  our  southeramost  province,  Sk&ne,  those  labourers  have  travelled  far 
and  wide,  often  fainting  with  cold  and  hunger  sowing  the  good  seed, 
the  "Word  of  the  Lord,  which,  to  old  and  young,  has  pi-oved  to  be  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation. 

Fm-ther,  the  Orebro  Union  also  has  an  additional  business  and  book 
dep6t  of  its  own  at  Oi*ebro. 

Dm-ing  the  past  fifteen  years  it  has  prhited  136  different  editions  of 
books,  embracing  in  all  984,800  copies,  and  about  100,000  sheets  of 
Sunday  school  cards. 


54  Organized  Sandaij  School  Worh  : 

The  sale  for  cash  during  that  time  amounts  to  kronor  319,014  = 
£17,723.  Books  have  been  presented  to  poor  Sunday  schools  hi  the 
course  of  that  period  for  kronor  5,2-18  =  £291  10*. 

In  oiu"  country  there  are  now  published  six  dilTercnt  magazines  for 
scholars,  and  three  papers  for  teachers,  including  the  '  Teacher,'  pub- 
lished by  the  Orebrii  Union  since  1874. 

Besides,  we  have  explanation  of  the  Sunday  school-lessons  in  some 
weekly  papers,  published  by  the  different  Dissenting  denominations  in 
cm*  country. 

Six  different  Sunday  school  hymn  books  have  also  been  published 
during  the  same  space  of  time. 

We  have  always  felt  a  pressing  want  of  a  cheap  Bible  for  our  Sunday 
schools,  seeing  that  the  text-books  containing  extracts  from  the  Bible 
for  the  International  Lessons  for  the  year,  have  been  incomplete  for 
a  fundamental  teaching.  Now  that  want  also  has  been  suppUed  by 
our  English  fi-iends.  Om-  esteemed  fi-iend  IMr.  Richards,  during  his 
last  visit  to  our  country,  saw  that  want  existed,  and  brought  it  before 
you  upon  his  retm-n.  You  again  sent  us  money.  10,000  copies  of 
tbe  Bible  were  prmted  last  year,  and  are  now  almost  sold  out.  Thus, 
not  only  has  the  teaching  in  our  Sunday  schools  been  very  much  im- 
proved, but,  what  is  far  more  essential  still,  the  cliildren  have  got  a 
Bible  of  then'  own,  which  they  can  buy  for  1  kronor. 

I  have  now  to  bring  you  hearty  greetings,  not  only  from  my  Clmstian 
brethren  and  sisters,  but  from  thousands  of  Sunday  school  scholars  in 
the  "  laud  of  the  midnight  sun,"  who  at  their  meetings  have  expressed 
their  thankfidness  for  this  gift  of  yom-s  so  highly  estimated  by  them. 

That  the  success  of  om-  endeavom'S  has  not  been  so  very  unimportant, 
will  appear  from  the  following  figures  about  our  Sunday  school  work 
durmg  the  time  past. 

It  is  supposed  that  in  connection  with  the  Lutheran  Chm-eli  of 
Sweden  there  are  75,000  Sunday  school  scholars  and  5000  teachers. 

In  connection  with  the  Swedish  Missionary  Union  (Free  Chm-ches) 
76,273  scholars  and  5568  teachers. 

The  Baptists  have  497  schools,  with  32,765  scholars,  and  2816 
teachers. 

The  Methodists  have  188  schools,  with  13,689  scholars,  and  971 
teachers. 

Schools  not  belonging  to  any  church :  25,000  scholars,  and  1000 
teachers. 

Total .     .     .     222,727  scholars. 
„     .      ,     ,       15,355  teachers. 

These  figm-es  show  certainly  progi'css  and  growing  interest  in  the 
Sunday  school  cause ;  yet  they  are  very  small  in  comparison  with  the 
great  number  of  cliildren  in  our  country  who  are  not  yet  brought  into 
the  Sunday  school. 

According  to  our  latest  statistics  the  number  of  children  of  six  up  to 
fourteen  years,  which  ai-e  in  the  age  of  primary  instruction  amounts  to 


On  the  <  !(>iiliiii'iil  of  Enropi'.  55 

753,000.  Si'fin;]^,  tlieii,  doin-  brethren),  that  mure  than  500,000  of 
children  between  the  ages  of  six  to  fourteen,  with  immortal  souls,  arc 
still  iiureac^hed,  we  feel  our  responsibility  to  do  all  that  lies  in  oui* 
power  to  bring  to  them  the  blessings  of  tlie  Gospel,  knowing  that  in 
due  season  we  shall  reap  if  we  faiut  not. 

Passing  to  the  Obstacles  of  our  work  I  would  mention  first  that  it  is 
but  the  plain  truth  to  state  that  the  progress  gaiiuul  in  the  Sunday 
school  work  in  Sweden  has  been  a  hard  work,  requiring  great  per- 
severance. 

It  has,  indeed,  had  to  work  its  way  inch  by  inch  against  prejudice, 
ignorance,  enmity,  and  resistance.  .^Vnd  in  many  cases,  not  to  say  in 
most  cases,  the  clergy,  joined  by  the  school  and  church  councils,  have 
been  foremost  in  resisting  the  Sunday  school  movement. 

The  Established  Church,  neither  by  fair  means  nor  by  foul,  have 
succeeded  in  making  children  desist  from  going  to  Sunday  school,  they 
issued  a  prohibition  against  it  tlu-ough  the  medium  of  the  above-men- 
tioned Church  and  School  Councils. 

As  an  example,  I  will  cite  such  a  piece  of  prohibition  from  the 
20th  of  February,  this  year,  sent  to  me  by  one  of  oiu*  missionaries  : — 

"  Minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  joint  Church  and  School  Councils  of 
*  Hor,'  Skilne,  the  20th  of  Februaiy,  1889. 

"  The  School  Council  having  learned  that  a  school  going  under  the 
name  of  a  Sunday  school  has  been  instituted  within  the  parish,  wliieli 
school  is  not  arranged  upon  the  basis  of  ordinances  concerning  parisli 
schools  contained  in  sect.  62  of  the  Law  for  Schools  for  the  present  in 
force,  and  as  the  persons  instructing  in  the  said  school  are  not  known 
to  possess  the  ability  requii-ed  for  such  instruction,  being  besides  highly 
suspected  of  embracing  views  in  religious  matters  difi'crmg  fi-om  those 
of  the  pure  Lutheranism,  we  hereby  do  forbid,  under  i^miishment  as 
stipidated  by  the  penal  law,  such  a  school  witliin  tlie  parish. 

"  Date  as  above. 

"A.  HoFSTROir,  P.C." 

This  is  but  one  act  among  the  many  which  have  befallen  our  yoimg 
and  weak  Sunday  schools,  thi'ough  which  act  of  violence  many  a  hopefid 
commencement  has  for  a  time  been  brought  to  nothing. 

Another  difficulty  has  presented  itself  in  the  tvaid  of  perseverintj 
teachers. 

Many  have  begma  the  task  with  great  zeal,  but  wheii  persecution  and 
obstacles  have  met  them  they  have  gi-own  dispu'ited  and  left  off. 

Emigration,  has  also  robbed  our  Sunday  schools  of  many  hundreds  of 
teachers,  and  the  same  thing  has  iu  many  places  been  a  great  lundrauce 
for  the  extension  of  the  work. 

Another  great  obstacle  has  been  the  poverty  of  our  people.  An 
Englishman,  well  known  to  you,  who  has  travelled  a  great  deal  m 
Sweden,  and  thoroughly  well  acquainted  with  tlie  coimtry,  has  i-eported 
of  it  thus  : — 


oG  Oirjanized  Sunclcuj  School  Worh  : 

"  Sweden  is  a  poor  country  and  will  always  so  remain." 

And  lie  is  right,  indeed  !  espeeially  in  regard  to  the  members  of  the 
Dissenting  churches.  For,  as  St.  Paul  says  :  "  Not  many  wise  men 
after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many  noble  are  called  "  amongst  us. 

Indeed,  in  many  cases,  a  considerable  part  of  the  congregation  stands 
in  urgent  need  of  the  support  of  their  brethren  who  are  in  easier  cir- 
c'.uustanees. 

And  besides  theu'  cm-rent  expenses,  the  building  of  chapels,  the 
uiaintenance  of  their  pastors,  then"  missionary  and  Sunday  school  work, 
they  also  have  to  pay  gi-eat  sums  to  the  clergy,  who  only  repay  them  by 
forbidding  their  work,  and  fining  them  if  they  dare  transgress  their 
prohibition. 

If  then  the  poor  people  have  no  money  with  Avhich  to  pay  the  fines, 
they  are  sent  to  prison  as  common  criminals. 

Such  are  the  circumstances  under  wliicli  we  have  had  to  labour  up  to 
this  time,  and  in  many  cases  they  still  remain  the  same. 

But  om*  end  and  aim  has  been,  and  still  is,  "The  children  of  Sweden 
for  Jesus,"  cost  what  it  may.  We  may  still  have  to  suffer,  but  we 
conuot  betray  the  command  given  us  by  our  Master,  "Feed  My 
lambs." 

In  this  respect  our  endeavom'S  have  also  been  crowned  with  success 
ah-eady. 

A  very  great  number  of  Sunday  school  children  have  given  their 
hearts  to  the  dear  Saviour. 

Our  Sunday  school  missionaries,  who  best  know  the  state  of  things  all 
over  the  country,  tell  us  that  in  many  schools  20  up  to  25  per  cent,  of 
the  scholars  are  converted.  A  great  many  of  them  have  already  joined 
oixr  churches  and  formed  some  of  the  best  and  most  active  laboui-ers  in 
our  Sunday  schools  ;  some  have  tm-ued  preachers,  others  Sunday  school 
missionaries,  and  not  a  few  of  them  have  entered  the  glorious  home 
above,  to  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord. 

One  of  our  most  pressing  needs  at  the  present  time  is  more  teachers. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  a  great  many  teachers  evei-y  year  emi- 
grate to  America.  Thus,  the  missionaries  very  often  report :  "  The 
Sunday  school  in  the  place  had  ceased  to  exist,  because  the  teacher  is 
gone  to  America,  and  there  is  none  in  the  neighbom-hood  to  fill  his 
place."  Or,  "  In  almost  all  the  schools  in  the  district  there  is  a  lack  of 
teachers,  and  the  churches  are  v.nable  to  fm-nish  them,  because  so  very 
many  of  their  members  this  year  liave  emigi-ated  to  America."  From 
other  fields  they  report ;  "  Not  a  smgle  Christian  was  to  be  found  who 
coiUd  be  obtained  as  teacher,  therefore  no  Sunday  school  could  be  com- 
menced ill  the  place. 

In  some  places  many  of  the  converted  people  are  in  great  need  of 
Eible  knowledge.  The  only  religious  books  they  have  read  before  their 
(tonversion  are  the  Catechism  and  the  Common  Prayer-book,  In  a  great 
many  cases  they  have  never  read  the  Bible  since  theu'  confirmation,  and 
know  but  vei-y  little  of  it. 


On  the  ('(niliiD-nt  of  Europe.  57 

From  this  state  of  things  there  arises  aiiotlicr  need,  namely,  the  want 
of  sonic  training  courses  for  teachers,  such  as  those  wc  had  some  years 
ago,  ill  diflerent  parts  of  the  country,  and  which  proved  to  be  of  great 
advantage  to  tliose  who  attended  tliem. 

In  connection  with  that  need  stands  another  one — a  greater  quantity 
and  variety  of  Sunday  school  litei'ature,  especially  for  the  education  of 
fciunday  school  teachers. 

In  some  schools,  however,  whei'e  the  elder  scholars  are  being  retained, 
they  are  placed  in  normal  classes,  to  imdergo  some  degree  of  training 
as  future  teachers. 

At  Orebrci,  and  some  other  places  of  our  field,  where  there  are  scholars 
lip  to  twenty-five  years  of  age,  there  are  normal  classes  for  those  above 
fifteen,  from  which  the  i-anks  of  the  teachers  are  recruited. 

But  those  schools  are  still  very  few.  First,  because  in  most  cases  the 
scholars  leave  the  schools  at  the  age  of  fifteen  in  order  to  undergo  the 
usual  confirmation  by  the  pi'iest,  after  which  ceremony  very  few  of  them 
return  to  the  Sunday  school ;  and,  secondly,  the  want  of  qualified 
teachers  to  lead  such  normal  classes. 

Auotlier  need  is  that  of  proper  localities  for  our  Sunday  schools. 
Of  late  we  have  exerted  our  utmost  powers  to  erect  chapels  and  houses 
for  our  work,  but  there  is  still  a  great  lack  of  localities,  especially 
in  the  large  woodland  districts  and  at  diifei'ent  ironworks.  In  these 
places  the  only  accommodation  that  can  be  obtained  for  the  Sunday 
scliool  is  usually  a  kitchen  or  some  cottage  inhabited  by  a  large  family. 
When  some  forty  or  fifty  children  are  huddled  together  in  such  a  room 
the  ah-  becomes  so  vitiated  that  the  candles  are  extinguished. 

It  is  easy  to  form  an  idea  of  the  susceptibihty  of  their  minds  in  such 
an  atmosphere,  not  to  speak  of  the  many  other  diflBciilties  connected 
with  a  Sunday  school  in  such  a  place.  But  He,  who  has  hitherto  be- 
stowed upon  us  His  divine  blessings,  suppUcd  our  needs  and  strengthened 
our  hands  in  the  days  of  weakness,  He  will  also  hereafter  fulfil  upon  us 
His  promise :  "I  am  with  thee,  and  will  surely  bless  thee." 

The  Gospel  of  Clu-ist  is  working  its  way  everywhere,  and  the  purpose 
of  God  in  setting  up  the  Eedeemer's  Kingdom  is  being  constantly 
fulfilled  ;  and  we  believe,  dear  brethren,  that  no  agency  will  be  more 
potent  in  ensuring  that  fulfilment  than  the  blessed  institution  whose 
interests  are  so  dear  to  all  our  hearts. 

God  speed  this  glorious  Sunday  school  work  all  over  the  world,  and 
most  especially  over  the  Land  of  the  Midnight  Sun. 

Professor  J.  G.  Fetzer  (Hamburg). 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  have  been  asked  to  make  a  few  remarks  by 
way  of  correction  or  approval  of  what  Mr.  Edwards  has  put  before  you. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  put  anything  that  I  have 
to  say  on  paper,  so  that  I  shall  just  give  you  the  impression  that  I 
have  received  from  Mr.  Edwards'  paper  and  from  my  own  observation 


58  Orijanized  Sunday  School  Worl: : 

dm-ing  my  work  among  the  Sunday  schools  in  Germany.  Sunday 
school  Avork  in  Germany  is,  so  far  as  I  know,  Tcry  old — at  least  as 
early  as  1S24  or  1825. 

The  first  Smiday  school  was  established  in  the  city  of  Hambm-g,  and 
from  that  time  Sunday  schools  were  estabhshed  in  different  parts  of  the 
German  Empii-e.  They  were  looked  upon  in  every  case  almost  with 
en^-y  and  hatred,  and  a  great  deal  was  done  at  the  time  to  suppress  the 
Simday  school  work,  because  it  was  in  no  \vise  considered  as  a  desii-able 
institution  for  the  state  of  things  which  existed  m  the  German  Empii-e 
at  that  time,  For  tliis  reason  Simday  school  work  during  the  first 
forty  years,  or  nearly  so,  from  the  time  the  first  Sunday  school  was 
organized,  was  not  permitted  to  raise  its  head  and  do  the  work  as  tlio 
people  who  had  it  in  charge,  and  who  lived  for  it  and  loved  it,  would 
have  liked  it  to  have  done. 

However,  things  had  come  to  take  a  better  tvu-n,  in  very  many 
cases  at  least,  and  very  few  are  now  here  and  there,  as  ilr.  Edwards 
has  said,  oppressed  and  hindered  in  their  work.  There  are  many 
villages  and  many  towns  in  which  there  is  no  Sunday  school,  and  as 
soon  as  a  person  starts  a  Sunday  school  there  are  persons  who  wUl 
very  likely  do  something  to  stop  the  work  in  its  progress,  and  hinder 
it  wherever  it  goes.  There  might  be  facts  given  to  illustrate  that 
point,  but  we  have  no  time  to  do  that.  For  the  last  thirteen  years  I 
have  been  more  or  less  iateresting  myself  in  Sunday  school  work  in 
Germany,  and  have  watched  its  progress  especially  in  independent 
bodies. 

The  work  has  gradually  increased  from  time  to  time,  and  the 
number  of  scholars  and  teachers  as  well  has,  I  think,  nearly  doubled 
from  what  it  was  ten  or  thirteen  years  ago.  This  is  owing  to  several 
reasons.  The  one  is  that  the  persons  themselves  have  received  as  it 
were  a  new  inspiration  in  the  work.  They  have  learned  to  see  that 
the  work  is  a  work  which  must  necessarily  be  done,  and  if  it  is  to 
be  done  that  they  are  the  persons  who  must  do  it.  It  cannot  be  said 
of  Germany  as  it  may  be  said  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  as 
it  may  be  said  of  England  and  Wales,  that  88  per  cent,  of  the  present 
teachers  have  formerly  been  scholars.  I  think  if  we  could  go  tlu-ough 
the  ranks  of  the  German  schools  we  should  fijid  perhaps  scarcely  half 
of  the  teachers  had  been  scholars,  and  others  have  to  be  drawn  in,  but 
it  takes  a  great  deal  of  time  and  a  great  deal  of  perseverance  to 
interest  them. 

Two  visits,  one  by  ilr.  Towers  and  the  other  by  our  friend  ilr. 
Edwards  foiir  or  five  years  ago,  did  a  great  deal  to  interest  and  give 
the  work  a  new  start  in  Germany.  Each  of  them  visited  Berlin  and 
Hamburg,  and  tried  to  do  what  they  could  at  both  places  to  interest 
Christian  friends  in  the  Sunday  school  work.  They  have  experienced 
by  these  visits  how  difficult  it  is  to  imite  the  diflerent  parts  and  bring 
them  together  to  work  imder  one  organization,  and  I  can  only  affirm 
that  to-day  it  is  a  most  difficult  tlung  to  even  bring  individual  bodies 


On  the  Conlinnxt  of  Eurojye.  u9 

to  work  umlci-  one  organization.  Thus  you  see  that  our  work  is  quite 
difieivnt  from  what  it  is  in  Enghuul,  and  from  what  it  is  in  the  United 
States,  although  I  am  aware  of  the  fact  which  luis  been  repeated  bv 
Mr.  Hartley-,  and  as  I  have  had  occasion  to  read  very  often  that  the 
denominations  here  have  to  some  extent  their  own  Sunday  School 
Union. 

Were  we  in  Germany  as  strong  as  you  are  in  England,  or  as  they 
are  in  the  United  States,  it  would  be  a  matter  which  woidd  not  be 
grieved  at,  but  since  we  are  not  so  strong  I  feel  it  very  intensely  that 
we  cannot  get  our  people  to  work  harmoniously.  For  ten  years  I 
have  been  trying  to  do  something  in  that  direction  at  Hamburg,  but  it 
has  been  a  very  difficult  thing  to  do  the  work  as  it  ought  to  be  done 
by  a  very  few  persons.  "We  hope,  however,  to  contmue  the  work  and 
not  get  tired,  trusting  that  in  due  time  the  work  which  now  seems  to 
flag  and  lose  in  interest  will  be  revived,  and  that  a  greater  zeal  will  be 
manifested  in  the  work,  and  that  the  work  wUl  improve  in  every 
respect.  As  to  the  accommodation,  it  is  a  fact  which  I  think  cannot 
be  deplored  too  deeply  that  it  is  so  incomplete.  Scarcely  one  denomi- 
nation or  church  has  besides  its  ovm  house  or  chapel  a  place  in  which 
they  can  gather  children. 

The  Sunday  school  is  not,  as  it  was  said  this  morning,  the  chiu-ch 
at  work ;  at  least  not  in  very  many  cases.  Very  few  of  the  people 
in  Germanv  are  interested  in  Sunday  schools  as  they  ought  to  be. 
The  poverty  of  the  people,  especially  the  Christian  people  who  would 
have  a  heart  and  zeal  and  interest  for  the  work,  is  so  great  that  nothing 
can  be  expected  from  them  for  the  present  in  this  respect. 

Tlie  internal  management  of  the  schools  is  far  from  what  it  ought  to 
be,  and  I  can  subscribe  fully  to  what  Mr.  Edwards  has  said  as  to  that 
fact.  Still  I  tliink  there  is  an  improvement  to  be  noticed  there  by 
any  one  who  has  not  xisited  the  German  schools  for  ten  yeai-s,  and  who 
goes  there  now.  You  would  be  able  to  see  that  the  management  is 
improving,  and  I  think  there  is  a  great  future  for  German  Sunday 
schools  in  this  and  the  next  century.  But,  Christian  friends,  you  who 
are  here  have  been  asked  to  take  an  interest  in  our  work  on  the 
Continent,  and  to  remember  us  in  your  prayers  and  in  your  gifts  and 
in  everytliing  else ;  therefore  I  would  like  to  ask  you — some  of  you 
may  visit  Germany  occasionally — to  visit  our  Sunday  schoob.  It  very 
seldom  happens  that  one  sees  Christian  friends  in  German  Sunday 
schools.  It  seems  to  me  as  if  it  was  the  same  with  a  great  many 
American  friends  who  visit  Europe.  They  visit  a  great  many  places, 
but  they  do  not  visit  the  churches,  and  they  do  not  visit  those 
churches  to  which  they  belong.  If  the  first  is  not  a  fact,  the  second 
is,  at  least  so  far  as  my  observation  goes. 

I  have  generally  found  them  in  those  churches  to  which  they  do 
not  belong.  I  do  not  know  why  it  is,  but  so  it  is.  I  have  read  letters 
from  persons  travelling  in  Russia  and  Poland,  where  I  knew  there 
were  churches  of  their  denomination,  but  I  never  saw  a  letter  even  or 


GO  Organized  Sunday  Scltool  Worh  : 

one  single  statement  in  whicli  tliey  referred  to  the  cluircli  in  that 
place  whicli  they  might  have  encouraged  by  their  visit.  And  the 
same  thing  is  true — I  wish  it  was  not,  but  I  believe  it  is — that  there 
are  very  few  Christian  friends  gohig  to  Germany  who  visit  the  Sunday 
schools.  I  woidd  ask  you,  Christian  friends,  who  are  perhaps  on  your 
way  to  the  Continent,  not  to  run  through  by  express  train  to  S\vitzer» 
land,  and  to  spend  your  time  m  London  as  pleasant  as  may  be,  but  go 
and  encourage  the  work  of  Sunday  schools  throughout  Clermany. 
That  will  encourage  them  in  tlieu"  wox'k  to  persevere  when  they  see 
that  everything  is  against  them  in  what  they  are  doing.  You  might 
speak  a  few  words  to  them  and  say,  "  Grod  bless  you,  and  grant  you 
everything  that  you  need." 

Then,  the  material  for  the  work  is  not  quite  what  it  might  be  as  yet ; 
but  it  is  getting  better,  and  we  are  gradually  getting  something  that 
will  stand  the  test  as  with  the  public  elsewhere.  The  numbers 
attending  the  schools  were  not  so  great  as  in  England,  but,  so  far  as 
they  go,  I  think  we  can  stand  the  test  with  others. 

I  have  tried  in  the  last  few  years  to  get  sixteen  or  seventeen  Sunday 
schools  in  the  Dissenting  churches  that  we  have  in  Hamburg  to  give 
me  regular  statistics,  but  when  I  look  at  them  and  try  to  compare 
them  with  the  year  previous  I  find  out  that  they  had  not  kept  them 
coiTectly,  and  that  some  of  the  figui-es  had  plainly  been  estimated 
from  a  guess — nothing  more  than  that.  In  that  matter  a  very  great 
deal  can  be  done,  and  I  hope  will  be  done  to  make  the  accessories  and 
auxiliaries  complete.  But,  friends,  we  must  not,  however,  expect 
Sunday  school  work  to  be  in  Germany  what  it  is  in  England,  nor 
what  it  is  in  the  United  States.  It  will  never  be  so  complete,  because 
in  schools  in  Germany  every  scholar  and  every  child  is  held  to  have 
learned  to  read,  and  eveiy  child  in  the  smaller  towns  and  villages  has 
a  Bible  and  a  lesson-book.  I  am  sorry  to  say  this  is  not  the  case  iii 
the  larger  cities,  and  especially  in  the  city  of  Hambm-g,  where  it  is 
being  ousted  out  of  the  school,  and  teachers  try  to  ridicule  it  in  eveiy 
possible  way.  In  England,  where  the  Sunday  school  was  started, 
Mr.  Eaikes  was  obliged  to  teach  the  children  fii'st  how  to  read.  We 
are  not  obliged  to  teach  the  children.  Though  the  woi-k  will  never  be 
what  it  is  in  England  and  in  America,  I  hope,  if  the  Lord  grants  that 
we  may  come  together  again,  some  one  may  be  able  to  say  that  since 
the  Convention  of  1889  our  Sunday  school  work  in  Europe  in  the 
State  churches,  as  well  as  in  the  Dissenting  churches,  has  increased, 
and  grown,  and  multiplied,  and  strengthened,  and  has  done  a  great  deal 
of  good, 


On  the  Continent  of  Europe .  61 


The  fuUowmg  Pivpcrs  :iud  Addresses  were  read  or  delivered  at  a  subse- 
quent session,  but  for  the  convenience  of  reference  to  Sunday 
School  Work  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  they  have  been  incorpo- 
rated under  the  proper  heading  : — 


Paper  ly  Mk,  J.  M.  Heybrock  {Amsterdam) . 

Mr.  Chairman,  dear  Clu-istian  friends,  when  we  received,  in  tho 
beginning  of  this  year,  the  tidings  of  tlie  World's  Sunday  School  Con- 
vention that  was  iiitended  to  be  held  in  London,  and  also  the  invitation 
to  send  two  or  more  delegates  from  Holland  to  that  international 
assembly,  the  Committee  of  the  Dutch  Sunday  School  Union  appointed 
my  friends,  P.  J.  MuUer,  Gr.  P.  Fruyt,  and  myself  to  represent  them 
among  the  great  number  of  friends  and  workers  in  the  Sunday  school 
who  have  been  coming  from  the  various  parts  of  the  world  in  this 
metropolis,  to  deliberate  about  the  great  institution  to  which  they  have 
devoted  their  forces  and  then-  love.  Our  committee  have  charged  us  to 
transfer  to  the  English  brothers  their  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  this 
Convention,  and  also  to  express  their  hope  and  their  expectation  that 
the  meeting  of  so  many  experienced  Christians  will  prove  fruitful  for 
the  sake  of  the  Sunday  school  all  over  the  world.  And  now  allow  nie 
to  give  you  a  short  historical  review  of  the  Sunday  school  work  in 
Holland  up  to  this  day.  It  can  be  stated  that  the  first  religious  Sunday 
school  in  Holland  was  started  in  the  year  1S36,  so  that  its  age  is  on 
the  present  day  fifty-three  years.  The  Sunday  school  work  had  to 
vanquish  many  difiiculties  before  it  could  find  a  good  place  in  the  life 
and  love  of  tlie  Dutch  Christians.  The  first  Sunday  school  teacher 
was  Mr.  Capadose,  by  bu-th  a  Jew,  but  who  had  found  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  his  Saviour.  He  had  visited  many  Sunday  schools  in  Switzerland, 
and  soon  acknowledged  the  great  importance  of  that  institution.  The 
inducement  to  the  forming  of  a  Sunday  school  in  the  Hague,  Avhere  he 
dwelt,  was,  accordmg  to  his  own  declaration,  an  encounter  he  had 
with  a  httle  boy,  ten  years  old,  with  whom  he  entered  into  conversation 
on  the  way  in  which  he  spent  liis  Sunday.  He  invited  the  boy  to  come 
to  his  home  on  a  Smiday  afternoon,  and  this  boy  and  his  sister  were 
the  first  Sunday  scholars  in  Holland. 

This  happened  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1836.  Smce  that  year 
Sunday  schools  have  been  formed  in  the  principal  towns  of  Holland. 
In  Amsterdam  the  first  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school  was  Mr.  Loo- 
juan,  our  actiial  secretary  of  the  Sunday  School  Union.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  that  work  since  the  year  1842,  and  is,  up  to  this  day, 
notwithstanding  his  grand  age,  full  of  zeal  for  the  Sunday  school. 
The  example  given  in  the  Hague  was  soon  followed  in  other  places  ;  at 
first  in  towns,  and  afterwards  in  villages.  The  starting  of  the  first 
Sunday  school  in  Rotterdam  took  place  in  the  year  1847.     Since  that 


(Ili  Organized  Sunday  School  }Vork  : 

year  the  developiiient  of  the  Sunday  sehool  work  was  so  rapid,  that  in 
the  year  188G,  when  we  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Sunday 
school  work,  there  were  in  the  Hague  20  Sunday  schools,  with  130 
teachers,  and  more  than  3000  scholars  ;  in  Amsterdann,  100  Sunday 
schools,  with  500  teachers  and  28,000  scholars  ;  in  Rotterdam,  80 
Sunday  schools,  with  390  teachers  and  10,000  scholars ;  and  in  Delft, 
12  Sunday  schools,  with  30  teachers  and  1400  scholars. 

In  the  year  1866  the  Dutch  Sunday  School  Union  was  founded, 
and  since  that  year  the  number  of  Sunday  schools  has  been  augmenting 
very  rapidly.  Concerning  the  labour  of  oiu*  Union,  we  can  state  that 
the  Union  has  forty-eight  branches  thi'oughout  the  country ;  all  these 
branches  have  then*  periodical  meetings  for  teachers,  where  the  intei-ests 
of  the  Sunday  school  work  are  discussed,  and  where  the  teachers  are 
strengthened  for  their  work  by  common  prayer.  The  Union  pub- 
lishes a  periodical  named  The  Christian  Faniili/  Circle,  an  illustrated 
monthly  paper  for  the  family  and  the  Sunday  school.  Besides  this, 
hints  for  teachers  are  published,  in  order  to  help  them  in  their  instruc- 
tion of  the  children  and,  finally,  the  Union  gives  annually,  on  occasion 
of  the  Cln-istian  feasts,  pubhcations  for  teachers  and  scholars. 

Our  annual  Convention  takes  place  usually  in  the  moutli  of  Septem- 
ber ;  Sunday  school  teachers  then  come  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
to  discuss  the  several  topics  concerning  Sunday  school  work,  and  to 
strengthen  there  the  mutual  bonds  that  unite  them ;  and  they  return 
from  the  meetings  with  renewed  zeal  for  their  work.  It  is  also  a 
rejoicing  fact  that  the  international  prayer-meetings  in  October  are  more 
and  more  attended  to  through  the  whole  country,  not  only  by  teachers, 
hut  also  by  the  scholars  and  their  parents. 

By  the  liberality  of  oiu*  English  brothers  we  have  since  the  year  1873 
a  missionary,  who  is  continually  travelHng  over  the  whole  country, 
cndeavoming  to  form  new  Sunday  scliools,  and  also  visiting  the  existing 
ones  and  to  give  guidance  to  the  teachers,  and  to  introduce  the 
necessary  improA'ements.  Om-  actual  missionary,  Mr.  Fruyt,  begun 
liis  labour  in  the  year  1879,  and  has  been  working  these  last  ten  years 
for  the  sake  of  the  Sunday  school  with  indefatigable  zeal  and  fidelity, 
doing  his  utmost  to  promote  the  work  to  which  he  has  vowed  his  forces 
and  his  hfe.  The  great  difficulty  we  have  to  struggle  with  m  Holland 
is  the  want  of  able  teachers,  not  so  mu.ch  in  the  great  towns,  where  the 
occasions  to  alTord  help  to  the  teachers  are  numerous  enough,  but  in 
oiu"  httle  towns  and  A-illages ;  and  it  is  m  that  way  that  o\\r  missionary 
renders  us  great  services. 

In  the  year  1886,  in  the  month  of  October,  we  celebrated  in 
Holland  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  institxition  of  the  Sunday  school. 
On  that  occasion  prayer-meetings  were  organized  tlu'ough  the  coimtry, 
and  renewed  efibrts  were  made  to  stii-  up  the  interest  of  the  Christian 
pubhc  in  our  Sunday  school  work.  By  that  way  the  Sunday  school 
becomes  more  and  more  known  and  appreciated  in  Holland,  and  its 
signification  and  influence  is  the  gi-eater,  since  the  thousands  of  children 


Oil  llic  ('iiiirniml  iif  J'jiirojir.  i'/o 

who  inako  use  ul'  tlu-  puljlic  clay  scliuol,  ulicrc  the  Jjibli'  is  ii  I'urbiddcu 
book,  receive  at  least  in  the  Sunday  school  some  religious  instruction. 
Tlie  children  who  frequent  oiu*  Sunday  schools  receive  tliei-e  a  serious 
impression  of  the  Lord's  Day.  They  arc  prepared  in  the  Sunday  school 
to  receive  further  religious  instruction  by  the  minister  or  the  teacher 
of  religion.  We  have  in  Holland  many  examples  of  cliildren  who, 
liaving  found  in  the  Sunday  school  the  peace  in  Clu-ist,  are  actually 
Simday  school  teachers ;  and  these  persons  are,  indeed,  not  the  least 
capable  for  their  work. 

Many  parents  who  neglected  the  daily  Bible  reading  arc  induced,  yea, 
pressed  by  their  children  frequenting  the  Sunday  school,  to  open  their 
Bibles.  A  great  number  of  striking  examples  of  this  could  be  quoted. 
We  have  a  living  hope  that  by  the  Sunday  school  the  Bible  will  become 
the  daily-used  house-book. 

With  all  this,  the  ideal  of  the  Sunday  school  is  far  from  being 
attamed.  Our  Sunday  schools  want  help  from  all  who  take  to  heart 
the  eternal  interests  of  the  children  of  oiu"  nation.  We  are  in  want  of 
more  help  from  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  and  of  the  parents  of  the 
children ;  above  all,  we  arc  in  want  of  able  teachers.  Our  Simday 
schools  require  also  efficacious  financial  assistance ;  the  teachers,  esjae- 
cially  in  oiu'  villages,  are  obliged  themselves  to  pay  the  necessary  expenses, 
the  hii-e  of  schoolrooms,  maps,  books,  tracts ;  and  this  is  a  charge  too 
heavy  for  many  of  them,  which  our  Sunday  School  Union  Avoidd  bo 
very  wilhng  to  take  from  their  shoulders  if  we  were  enabled  to  do  so. 

We  have,  however,  to  remember  gratefully  wliat  the  Lord  has  done, 
and  to  pray  that  the  Sunday  school  teachers  may  be  strengtliened  in 
tlieir  faith,  and  stimulated  in  theu"  love  for  the  cliildren,  that  tliey  may 
advance  in  the  knowledge  and  the  practice  of  the  Word  of  God ;  to  pray 
that  all  the  children  of  oiu-  beloved  country  may  be  brought  imder  the 
sanctifying  mfluenoe  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  under  the  i-cgenerating 
power  of  the  Holy  Spu'it,  so  that  they  may  be  all  conducted  to  the 
Lord  Jesus,  and  to  the  faith  in  Him  as  their  Saviom*.  But  let  lis  also 
pray  that  the  parents  may  inspire  their  children  with  esteem  and  love  for 
their  teachers,  and  implore  in  their  presence  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  on 
their  woi'k.  Wlieu  these  prayers  are  heard,  then  the  Sunday  school 
will  prove  a  blessing  to  the  family  and  a  preparation  school  for  the 
chinx-h. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  great  and  rapid  extension  of  the  Sunday  scliool 
work  in  Holland,  we  can  state  that,  in  18S0,  the  year  of  tlie  centenary  of 
Sunday  schools,  we  had  in  Holland  1000  Sunday  schools,  with  3000 
teachers  and  100,000  scholars  ;  and  actually,  nearly  ten  years  later,  the 
number  of  Sunday  schools  has  grown  to  1470,  and  that  of  scholars  to 
152,000. 

Certainly,  when  we  look  back  to  tliis  great  augmentation  of  schools 
and  scholars,  we  have  much  reason  for  gratitude  towards  oui'  Heavenly 
Father,  who  has  blessed  tlie  work  in  such  an  extraordinary  way,  and  we 
place  it  further  with  confidence  under  His  gracious  protection,  trusting 


<)4  Organized  Sunday  School  WorJc  : 

that  He  will  continue  us  His  blessing  in  a  work  which  is  so  inseparably 
connected  with  the  advancement  of  His  kingdom. 

The  PuESiDENT  :  I  much  regret  you  did  not  all  hear  that  paper,  for 
it  contained  many  interesting  things,  and  notably  one,  that  they  liave 
a  Sunday  school  Convention  in  Holland.  I  have  great  pleasure  in 
introducing  Monsieur  &reig,  who  is  in  connection  with  the  McAll 
Mission  work. 

MoNSiETTE  Geeig  {Paris). 

I  was  once  in  America  on  a  visit  in  connection  with  the  McAll 
Mission,  and  I  was  at  a  prayer-meeting.  I  said  something  about 
France,  and  at  the  close  a  dear  brother  from  the  country  came  up — 
I  think  he  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  church  — and  he  said,  "  Let 
me  congratulate  you  on  your  able  English  ;  it  is  very  well  for  a 
Frenchman."  That  is  the  reason  why  I  speak  to  you  about  France. 
My  colleagues  thought  I  could  speak  a  little  more  readily  than  they, 
and  I  therefore  take  the  place  which  rather  belonged  to  them.  Yet  I 
can  speak  to  you  not  only  of  the  McAll  Mission  work  among  childi-en, 
which  I  may  call  the  advance  corps  of  this  Sunday  school  army  in 
France,  but  I  can  speak  to  you  of  what  has  been  done  in  the  regularly 
organized  schools  of  the  Protestant  churches.  I  have  been  superin- 
tendent for  some  time  in  the  school  of  the  church  of  a  pastor  whose 
name  you  have  all  heard,  the  Rev.  Theodore  Monod.  (Hear,  hear.) 
Let  me  say  a  word  about  the  Protestant  schools.  Thei-e  is  more 
difficulty  than  you  Anglo-Saxons  are  apt  to  think  between  what  does 
for  you  and  what  will  do  for  France.  The  reason  is  liistorical.  You 
have  spread  so  far  over  the  world  that  you  are  apt  to  think  that 
what  suits  Anglo-Saxons  is  necessarily  international.  Yet  there  are 
diliferences,  and  that  is  why  it  is  useful  to  have  in  a  Convention  like 
this  representatives  from  such  comparatively  small  bodies  of  Simday 
school  workers  as  that  to  which  I  belong.  One  single  example :  in 
France  a  pomt  of  very  great  importance  in  the  rehgious  instruction  of 
the  young  is  the  utilization  of  the  Thursday  as  well  as  the  Sunday. 

Tluu'sday  schools  are,  in  a  way,  more  necessary  than  even  Sunday 
schools  in  France.  Yet,  if  we  were  to  come  and  say  to  you,  "  I  think 
much  of  Thm-sday  schools  ;  start  Thm-sday  schools  in  England ;  it  is 
absolutely  necessary,"  what  a  fallacy  on  oiu-  part  it  would  be.  Thursday 
is  the  school  holiday  in  France,  but  here  childi-en  are  as  iullj  occupied 
on  Thursday  as  on  Tuesday  or  any  other  week  day.  In  making  any 
arrangements  in  connection  with  Simday  school  work  for  the  children 
of  the  entu'e  world,  you  must  tiy  to  take  into  account  the  special  cu"- 
cumstances  and  conditions  of  those  nations  among  whom  you  wish  to 
work.  In  France,  for  many  years,  all  the  religious  instruction  was  given 
by  the  pastors,  and  it  is  because  of  the  nobleness  of  these  pastors  that 
a  difficulty  is  met  with — a  certain  iinwilluigness  hitherto  to  give  up  to 
the  members  of  the  church  the  training  of  the  young.  It  is  only 
since  the  foimdation  of  the   Republic  that  we  have  had  liberty  of 


On  the  Continent  of  Enropc,  65 

Siuuclay  school  tcafhiiig,  ami  here  let  ine  ask  all  Christians  present  to 
pray  that,  in  the  month  of  October  next,  we  may  keep  that  Republican 
Government,  which  we  obtained  with  so  much  difTiculty.  It  is  only 
since  the  advent  of  that  Government  that  there  has  been  real  religious 
liberty  in  France.  Till  then  it  was  a  punishable  oficncc  to  hold  a 
religious  meeting,  and  it  was  only  a  pastor  wlio  had  a  shadow  of  a  righ 
to  do  any  such  thing.  Therefore,  by  the  force  of  cu'cumstances,  tlie 
pastors  had  to  keep  in  their  hands  the  instruction  of  the  youth  of  the 
church;  and  all  honour  to  them  for  what  they  did  in  forming  schools 
in  their  parishes  to  train  up  the  yomig !  So  do  not  be  hard  on  vay 
I'rench  brethren  if  they  are  luiwilling  to  give  up,  often  to  ill-prepared 
Bible  students,  the  training  of  the  yoimg  tliey  so  much  value. 

As  regards  the  Mc  All  Mission  work,  it  is  absolutely  essential  to  set  to 
work  amongst  the  young ;  and  it  is  among  the  conditions  we  lay  down 
when  we  open  a  mission  in  any  city  that  there  be  Sunday  school  work 
in  connection  with  that  mission.  You  know  possibly  that  there  are  a 
number  of  paid  agents  in  connection  with  the  mission.  I  am  one  of 
them.  Their  number  is  very  small.  Much  of  the  work  is  done  through 
the  churches,  and  when  a  pastor  writes  to  ijs,  "  I  w  ish  to  open  a  mission 
hall  in  my  city,"  if  he  has  money  for  rent,  we  give  him  a  hall,  and  we 
insist  upon  it  that  he  have  a  meeting  on  Sunday  there  and  on  the  week 
days,  and  a  meeting  for  the  young  hi  an  organized  Sunday  school.  A 
great  many  of  these  brethi-en  know  nothing  about  modern  Sunday  school 
teaching,  and  hence  a  great  need  m  the  McAll  Mission  of  some  person 
who  can  go  about  and  show  these  bretlu'en  "  how  to  do  it."  They  long 
to  know  "  how  to  do  it." 

I  have  been  privileged,  owing  somewhat  to  the  generosity  of  the 
Sunday  School  Union,  to  itinerate  iu  France,  and  none  have  re- 
fused— even  the  oldest  pastors  have  been  willing — to  listen  to  what 
instruction  the  mere  beginning  in  God's  work  can  give  them.  What 
can  we  do  ?  Even  where  oiu-  work  is  most  organized  we  cannot,  where 
Cliristian  work  is  newly  begun,  have  classes  at  once.  We  ai-e  not  sure 
that  the  children  will  come  regularly,  to  begin  with.  It  is  a  simple 
fallacy  when  a  hall  is  opened  to  at  once  break  up  these  children  into 
classes.  The  best  thing  we  find  is  to  keep  the  classes  in  the  hand  of  a 
competent  person  until  the  children  have  become  regular  in  their 
attendance.  I  need  not  tell  you,  whei-e  attendance  is  irregular,  how 
hopeless  it  is  to  give  instruction  in  the  classes.  We  cannot  expect  to 
get  our  classes  officered  from  the  Protestant  chm'ches.  To  some  extent 
the  young  people  there  do  not  know  "  how  to  do  it,"  and  they  have 
theu-  own  work  to  do.  Our  plan  in  the  cities  is  to  take  the  teachers 
from  among  the  converts.  They  are  Tery  ignorant,  but  full  of  zeal. 
They  can  point  the  childx-en  to  Christ. 

I  remember  from  my  own  experience  how  joyful  a  work  that  is  after 
oonversion ;  and,  if  we  can  tell  what  to  do  with  siu,  the  battle  is  won. 
We  can  pomt  to  Christ.  What  we  can  do,  however,  in  the  matter  of 
organization,  is  to  train  these  converts  to  become  good  teachers.     To 

V 


66  Organized  Sunday  School  Worlc: 

this  end  preparation  classes  are  absolutely  necessary.  It  is  difficult  to 
gather  young  people  in  France ;  and  Mr.  Edwards  reminded  you  of  the 
late  hours  of  work  there,  but  he  might  also  have  spoken  of  the  social 
difficulties — the  immorality  and  gaiety.  In  spite  of  these  difficulties, 
aU  the  teachers  of  a  school  in  Paris  I  could  mention,  although  they 
have  three  quarters  of  an  hour  travelhng  to  attend  the  preparation 
classes,  attend  regularly,  not  one  missing  unless  illness  be  the  reason. 

The  McAll  Mission  goes  to  places  where  nothing  has  been  done. 
Till  we  have  the  converts,  some  one  man  or  woman  must  do  the 
teaching.  I  will  give  you  an  instance  of  the  difficulties  to  be  encoun- 
tered. There  was  a  hall  in  Paris  about  seven  years  ago,  where  a  French 
lady  took  the  organization  of  the  school  in  hand.  Twenty  children 
were  present.  They  listened  for  five  minutes,  and  then  they  took  the 
chaii's  and  carried  them  out  mto  the  sti'cct,  and  threw  them  at  one 
another's  heads ;  but  now,  if  you  went  there,  you  would  find  a  large 
haU  with  300  scholars,  and  three  schools  fully  organized,  a  school  for 
little  gu'ls  and  little  boys,  and  a  general  school  for  those  who  can  read  ; 
and  in  addition,  but  not  meeting  at  the  same  time,  a  class  for  men, 
almost  as  old  as  they  chose  to  come  to  be  prepared  for  ehurch-member- 
shijD.  There  is  also  a  meeting  for  young  girls  held  a  little  distance  ofi". 
This  is  what  we  call  organized  work. 

E!mdly  let  me  give  you  another  specimen  of  what  we  call  organized 
work.  Last  Sunday,  in  one  of  our  largest  halls,  which  can  contain  400, 
which  is  very  lai'ge  for  a  Paris  hall,  an  interesting  incident  happened. 
This  hall  is  filled  in  winter,  but  in  summer  the  children  are  taken  away 
by  their  parents  for  that  promenade  so  dear  to  the  Parisian's  heart ; 
and  in  that  school  the  attendance  we  find  had  gone  down  to  sixty.  We 
like  that,  so  far.  It  may  astonish  some  of  my  brethren  to  hear  that  we 
make  no  efi'ort  to  keep,  beyond  the  six  or  seven  winter  months,  the  great 
mass  of  childi'en  who  come  irregularly.  Then'  presence  disorganizes  the 
teaching,  and  dui-ing  the  summer  we  comit  to  work  up  those  who  hare 
been  caught,  midistm-bed  by  the  coming  in  and  going  out  of  the  irre- 
gulars. Well,  we  thought  sixty  small,  and  the  teachers  said,  "  Let  ns  go 
out  and  fetch  in  children  fi-om  the  '  liighways  and  hedges.' "  They 
went  out  by  twos  and  threes,  and  in  ten  minutes  had  brought  in  one 
hundred  cliildi'eu  out  of  the  streets  close  by — children  who,  though 
living  close  by,  had  never  heard  of  the  existence  of  the  school.  If  they 
had  not  come  in,  they  might  never  have  heard  of  the  love  of  Christ. 
We  call  that  organized  Siinday  school  work ;  and  yet  that  is  not  quite 
accordmg  to  the  sti'ict  model.  (Cheers.)  Let  me  tell  you  just  two  little 
things.  I  have  here  one  of  the  reports  sent  in  to  me  with  respect  to 
the  progress  of  the  work.  A  question  had  been  asked,  "  Are  there  ever 
spiritual  results  anywhere  ?  "  They  answer,  "  Yes."  There  are  some 
most  interesting  cases.  Here  is  the  latest  that  came  to  my  notice. 
"  At  Chatellerault,  where  meetings  have  been  held  since  May  last  year, 
the  children  were  brought  ha  from  the  streets,  being  wholly  Koman 
Catholic— not  one  Protestant  among  them.     Of  the  childreuj  none  of 


On  the   Conn  and  of  Enrapc.  67 

them  liacl  rcccivetl  even  a  moral  education,  yet  out  of  that  number 
there  is  at  least  one  who  is  singing  the  praises  of  God  by  the  throne 
of  Clirist,  who,  before  liis  death  from  a  disease  which  caused  excruciating 
suHering,  instead  of  complaining,  sang  the  hynms  he  had  learned  in  tlie 
Sunday  school.  lie  spoke  to  his  parents,  giving  them  a  rendezvous  in 
heaven,  and  entreating  his  father  not  to  put  oil'  coming  to  C'lirist. 
Some  of  his  fellow-scholars  came  to  see  him,  and  he  lu'ged  them  to 
come  to  Clmst ;  and,  finally,  he  died  refusing  to  see  any  priest,  but 
wisliing  only  to  have  his  Sunday  school  teacher  with  him.  (Applause.) 
Hei-e  is  another  instance  of  spuntual  residts.  Thei-e  is  in  Paris  an 
atelier — what  do  you  call  it  in  English? — a  printing-office,  which  was 
notorious  for  its  immorahty.  No  mother  who  had  any  respect  for  her 
children  would  allow  her  davighter  to  go  to  work  there.  One  of  my 
Sunday  scholars  had  to  go — her  mother  wished  her  to  go  to  work 
there.  She  went,  and  she  kept  herself  pure,  and  one  of  her  fcllow- 
scholai's  needing  work  got  alongside  of  her,  knowing  that  two  are  better 
than  one ;  and  for  two  years  they  worked  there  in  that  very  sink  of 
iniquity.  Then  that  printing-office  changed  its  character,  and  }iow, 
instead  of  being  spoken  of  as  the  worst  in  the  district,  the  people  speak 
of  it  as  scarcely  Paris-Uke — changed  by  these  two  Sunday  scholars,  one 
of  whom  was  of  relapsed  Protestant  parents,  and  the  other  of  Roman 
Cathohc  parentage.     (Cheers.) 

A  Delegate  :  I  have  been  told,  in  conversation  with  some  fi-ieuds 
from  the  Continent,  that  the  effects  of  the  Convention  would  be  more 
widely  felt  on  the  Continent,  if  some  of  their  delegates  could  be  included 
on  the  executive  committee,  and  I  suggest  that  some  of  them  shoidd 
be  appointed  on  the  committee. 

The  President  :  We  should  be  much  dcUghted  to  revise  the  whole 
thing.  I  would  fm-ther  suggest  that  the  brethren  should  consult  on  the 
subject,  and  if  you  will  send  in  names  from  different  countries  at  tlie 
close  of  this  meeting  they  shall  be  duly  considered. 

The  Eea".  H.  Usstxg  {Deimarlc). 

1  sliall  be  very  brief  in  addressing  the  meeting,  because  the  time 
has  got  on,  and  I  should  like  to  say  a  few  words  about  our  Httle 
country.  If  you  know  something  of  geography — I  am  afraid  to  say 
tliat  all  the  great  nations  do  not  know  much  of  geography  except  their 
own,  but,  if  you  know  anything  of  geography,  you  know  sometliiiig  of 
Denmark. 

We  have  the  right  to  occupy  a  little  of  yoiu*  time,  because  we 
Danes  have  a  very  old  place  in  the  woi'ld's  history,  and  in  your 
liistory ;  and,  when  you  Americans  come  here  as  sons  of  a  mother 
or  father,  we  may  say  that  we  come  here  as  father  to  the  father. 
(Clieers  and  laughter.)  I  dare  say  that  in  some  way  we  may  pretend  to 
be  grandfathers  to  you  young  Americans ;  but  it  is  tlie  law  of  the  time 
tliat  the  children  grow  bigger,  and  yon  Imve  grown  veiy  big  (laughter), 

F  2 


GS  Orijanizcd  Saiidaij  School  Worh .' 

and  the  parents  sometimes  grow  smaller ;  so  it  lias  been  Avitli  lis. 
(Eenewecl  laughter.)  Now,  as  to  the  .Sunday  schools  in  Denmark, 
I  can  only  say  ^ve  have  about  35,000  scholars  and  2000  teachers. 
You  vill  think  it  a  rei-y  small  figure,  but  it  is  almost  four  times  as 
jnucli  as  I  had  the  honour  of  relating  nine  years  ago  at  the  World's 
Convention  here ;  so  you  see  that  the  work  is  rapidly  increasing 
in  our  country — but  it  is  new  still.  We  are  deeply  indebted  to  you 
Englishmen  for  this  grand  idea  of  the  Sunday  school ;  but,  nevertheless, 
I  should  not  like  any  one  of  you  to  think  of  vis  Danes  as  a  sort  of 
heathen.  Sometimes  I  have  heard  you  speak  of  the  Continental  mis- 
sions almost  as  you  speak  of  the  Cliina  and  India  missions.  Of  coiirse, 
we  have  some  people  not  much  better  than  heathens,  but  you  have  some 
too.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  can  tell  you  a  vei-y  good  reason  ^^•hy  we  have 
got  Sunday  schools  so  late.  We  have  had  for  seventy-five  years — for 
thi'ce  quarters  of  a  centmy — compulsory  education,  and  in  that  religious 
teaching  is  taken ;  so  that  in  our  country  we  have  compulsory  religious 
teachmg.  Of  course,  you  know  it  cannot  always  be  quite  spiritual 
teaching,  but  at  the  same  time  a  great  number  of  Board  school  teachers 
are  true,  faithful,  and  spu'itual  people.  Therefore ^\e  are  only  hcginnmg 
witii  Sunday  schools,  and  the  principle  upon  which  they  are  established 
is  to  promote  the  spmtual  hfe.  You  have  hundreds  and  thousands 
more  Sunday  schools  than  we,  but  you  have  many  that  we  should  not 
call  Sunday  schools,  because  there  is  not  the  spu-itual  life  in  them.  Wc 
call  those  only  Sunday  schools  which  spring  out  of  the  living  fountaiu 
of  the  Church.  With  reference  to  what  was  stated  by  Mr.  Edwards  to- 
day, I  may  say  that  as  to  the  accommodation  we  are  better  oif  than  some 
parts  of  the  Continent.  We  have  in  a  great  many  places  mission  halls 
built  especially  for  Sunday  school  work,  and  that  not  only  in  the  larger 
towns  but  also  in  the  counti-y  villages.  The  mam  part  of  our  ]5easants, 
so  far  as  they  are  spu-itually  inclined,  take  a  great  interest  in  tlie  Sunday 
school,  and  in  a  great  many  parts  of  the  countiy — in  villages — you  will 
see  mission  halls,  where  always  on  Sunday  they  have  schools.  As  to  the 
preparation  classes,  you  are  a  httle  behind  in  England ;  we  always  have 
them  diligently,  and  when  you  say  you  have  only  one-tenth  of  the 
schools  for  preparation  classes,  we  have  only  one-twentieth  where  "wc 
have  vot  the  preparation  classes.  In  Copenhagen  we  have  the  honour 
of  having  the  greatest  men — the  leadhig  men — amongst  the  conductors 
of  these  classes  ;  we  have  our  best  reuowued  university  professor  as  one 
of  the  leaders,  and  two  others  have  been  elected  bishops  in  om*  church. 
I  wish  to  say  one  word  about  the  children  of  the  higher  class,  because 
that  is  a  question  of  great  importance,  and  Denmark  is  not  the  only 
place  where  the  question  is  to  be  considered.  We  have  in  Copenhagen 
special  Smiday  schools  for  the  liigher  classes.  We  are  able  to  liave  a 
haU  nearly  as  large  as  this  fiUed  Avith  cliildren  of  the  higher  classes 
coming  on  Svuiday  to  have  their  Sunday  school  instruction,  especially  in 
the  winter.  We  are  beginuuig  to  have  yeai-ly  conferences  of  Sunday 
acliool  teachers  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 


On  fjir   Cfiiitincni  of  Enropp.  C9 

I  sluiU  liiii.'>li  now ,  and  liavo  only  one  more  \\oi'il.  I  liavc  a  hearty 
greeting  to  bring  from  our  own  sister  land,  Norway.  You  have  not 
sent  any  invitation  to  Norway,  and  I  took  the  liberty  in  your  name  to 
invite  the  Norwegians,  but  I  got  tlic  answer,  that,  as  they  had  no 
a-isoeiation  formed  for  the  work,  they  did  not  think  it  desirable  to  send 
ilelegat<.'s.  Thej'  asked  me,  however,  to  bring  their  hearty  greetings  to 
the  English  people  for  the  grand  idea  of  Sunday  schools.  "We  have 
about  20,000  children  iu  the  Norwegian  Sunday  schools,  ^^■ith  about 
lUdU  teachei-s,  and  this  moutli  they  have  the  first  National  Convention 
of  Sunday  seliool  tcacliers  in  Droutheim,  iu  the  north  of  Norway,  where 
1  «as  jisked  to  speak.  AVc  thank  you  Englishmen,  aiul  ask  you  to 
lliink  a  little  more  about  us  and  pray  for  us.     (Cheers.) 

The  Kea-.  Hexet  C.  T\'oodeuff,  D.D.   {Black  Rock;  Cu,uiccliail, 
U.S.A.) 

At  the  request  of  the  President,  I  make  some  remarks  in  reference 
to  the  Foreign  Sunday  School  Union  of  America.  I  will  only  take  a 
moment  novr,  because  the  Committee  has  rery  kindly  permitted  nic  to 
occupy  a  position  later  on  m  the  progi-amme.  The  work  of  our 
society  will  be  illustrated  by  what  I  shall  say  on  that  occasion.  Tho 
work  we  are  carrying  on  tlu-ough  con-espondeuce  finds  an  echo  cvery- 
whci-e.  It  is  a  great  pleasiu-e  to  me  to  liave  met  these  brethren, 
some  of  them  correspoudents,  and  known  by  name  to  me,  though  I 
have  never  seeii  them  face  to  face,  or  gi-asped  them  by  the  hand. 
We  carry  on  our  work  by  tliis  method  of  correspondence.  We  have 
established  Sunday  school  papers — for  literature  is  a  busy  agent  now- 
a-days,  and  we  find  this  one  of  the  best  methods  of  work.  We  are 
caiTying  on  in  one  way  or  another  Sunday  school  papers  in  some  six 
or  eight  different  languages  by  a  moderate  expenditure  of  money. 
'  Christie's  Old  Organ '  may  be  kno\Tn  to  some  of  you ;  also,  '  Saved  at 
Sea,'  '  Lost  Gip  ;  or,  Alone  in  London.'  We  have  published  some 
30,000  copies  of  one  or  other  of  those  difterent  books,  and  distributed 
tliem.  We  have  multiplied  lay  Christian  activity  over  the  eoimtiy.  I 
wish  when  you  go  home,  having  heard  of  the  residts  of  Sunday  school 
work  in  these  countries,  and  having  heard  of  theii-  need,  you  will  be 
kind  enough  to  give  us  the  assistance  we  need. 

The  Peesidext  :  All  the  work  done  by  the  Foreign  Smiday  School 
Union  is  done  voluntarily.  Nearly  all  the  contributions  are  from 
Cluistian  ladies,  and  the  gentlemen  who  give  their  time  give  it  without 
remuneration.  It  is  a  delightful,  beautiful,  and  pleasmg  work,  owned 
of  the  Lord. 

A  Scotch  Delegate  :  Are  there  to  be  no  remarks  allowed  on  the 
papers  that  we  liave  heard  ? 

The  Pbesidext  :  One  woidd  be  glad  to  hear  remarks  of  delegates 
but  unless  we  can  put  more  than  sixty  minutes  into  the  hour  I  am 
afraid  it  cannot  be  done. 


70  Orr/antzcd  Sunday  School   Worh: 

The  Delegate  :  But  does  "Convention"  mean  that  ■\vc  ai-e  to  meet 
and  listen  to  papers  day  after  day  -n-itliout  any  opportunity  of  taldng 
part  in  it  ? 

The  PRESIDENT :  Wo  should  be  glad  to  hear  remarks  made  if  there 
is  time. 

The  Delegate  :  It  is  essential,  beeause  to-day  in  one  of  the  papers 
statistics  are  given  which  are  very  far  from  bcmg  complete,  and  it 
woidd  be  absolutely  necessary  to  make  some  remarks  on  those  statistics  ; 
and  I  hold  that  it  is  one  of  the  essential  things  of  this  Convention  that 
there  should  be  an  opportunity  for  discussion. 

A  Delegate  :  I  suggest  that  this  matter  shovdd  be  referred  to  the 
executive  committee  for  consideration,  and  that  the  delegate  shoidd 
move  to  that  effect. 

The  Scotch  Delegate  :  I  shall  do  so  with  pleasm-e,  but  I  regret 
the  necessity  for  any  such  motion. 

The  mecthig  closed  with  prayer. 


(     71     ) 


FIRST  DAY.— THIRD  SESSION. 

Tuesday  Evening,  2nd  Jolt. 

TuE  Thii'd  Session  of  Convention  was  held  at  6.30  on  Tuesday  evening 
in  the  City  Temple,  Mr.  F,  F.  Belset  occupying  the  Chair. 

The  proceechugs  having  been  opened  with  prayer,  the  reading  of  a 
portion  of  Scripture,  and  the  singing  of  hymns, 

The  PuESiDENT  said :  I  should  like  to  say  a  few  words  before  calling 
U]ion  the  gentlemen  who  will  address  you.  Among  the  results  which 
I  would  like  to  see  following  this  Convention  arc  the  holding  of  meetings 
in  covjnection  with  some  of  om*  provincial  unions.  Om*  friends  in  the 
country  are  exceedingly  anxious  to  grasp  the  hands  and  look  into  the 
faces  of  the  delegates  from  America,  Canada,  the  colonies,  and  foreign 
lands,  and  would  be  very  glad  to  receive  visits  from  any  of  you  who 
could  remain  in  tliis  countiy  for  a  week  or  so  and  accept  theu*  hospi- 
tality. 

I  have  many  invitations  and  offers  of  hospitahty  from  fi'iends  in  tho 
comitry,  and  many  promises  of  aid  in  this  matter  from  friends  who  are 
here  as  delegates.  I  may,  therefore,  leave  the  matter  in  your  hands, 
and  I  hope  as  many  of  you  as  can  possibly  manage  it  will  accept  the 
proffered  hospitality,  and  I  will  have  a  list  that  will  gladden  the 
hearts  of  om*  friends  and  create  enthusiasm  in  this  great  cause  in  the 
country  districts.  The  Secretary  will  be  happy  to  afford  every  infor- 
mation to  delegates  who  desire  it. 

The  subject  to  be  treated  this  evening  is  "  Organized  Sunday  School 
Work  in  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  among  Colom-ed  People," 
and  Dr.  Witlu-ow  is  the  first  on  the  list  to  addi-ess  us  upon  the  subject 
of  "  Organized  Sunday  School  Work  in  Canada  ";  but,  before  calling 
upon  Dr.  Withi-ow,  I  would  just  like  to  mention  that  the  resolution 
which  was  passed  tliis  morning  has  been  submitted  to  the  executive 
committee  according  to  arrangement,  and  the  chairman  of  that  com- 
mittee will  bring  up  and  present  his  report  in  due  coiu'se. 

A  Delegate  peom  Scotland  :  Permit  me  to  interpose  in  order  to 
ask  when  we  may  expect  to  have  the  report  from  the  executive  com- 
mittee, because,  if  in  our  opinion  the  report  be  not  a  satisfactory  one, 
we  will  requu'e  to  raise  the  whole  matter  upon  a  motion  to  suspend  the 
standing  orders. 


72  Organized  Sunda;/  School  Wook  : 

The  PefjSIDENt  :  I  may  say  that  the  cliau-mau  of  the  executive  cova- 
mittee  is  not  here  at  pveseut,  he  has  uot  yet  arrived,  but  we  expect  him 
every  miuute,  and  as  soon  as  he  arrives  wo  will  arrange  to  have  liis 
report  presented  at  the  eai-liest  possible  moment. 

I  will  now  call  upou  Dr.  Withrow  to  give  us  liis  report  on 


ORGrANIZED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WOEK  IN  CANADA. 
Heport  o/"  Dr.  WiTHiiow  {Toi-ohLq). 

Mr.  Chaii-mau  and  fellow  Sunday  school  workers,  I  j,n-e;itly  wish 
that  the  duty  of  speaking  for  tlie  Dominion  of  Canada  had  fallen  to 
some  abler  tougue  than  mine,  not  that  I  bate  a  jot  of  loyalty  to  my 
coimtry  or  a  jot  of  interest  in  this  great  work,  but  because  circiun- 
stances  over  which  I  have  had  no  control  have  prevented  me  from 
giving  adequate  thought  to  the  great  scheme. 

I  may  say  that  I  left  Canada  in  chai-ge  of  a  family  of  forty-five 
persons.  Well,  although  Canadians  as  a  rule  are  fathers  of  large  famihes, 
that  was  the  largest  family  that  I  ever  had  charge  of  before,  and  you 
can  easily  imderstand  that  my  time  was  fuUy  occupied  in  making  the 
necessary  preparations  for  our  voyage  and  in  looking  after  them  in  this 
city. 

I  did  think  that  wheu  on  shipboard  I  should  have  the  opportiuiity  of 
giving  some  time  to  this  great  subject,  but  in  consequence  of  certain 
circumstances  which  occurred  to  us  when  we  were  on  board  ship  I  was 
imable  to  give  any  thought  to  this  matter.  Since  I  have  come  to  this 
tight  little  island  I  have  been  a  busier  man  than  I  have  ever  been 
before,  and,  as  I  found  less  and  less  opportunities  of  giving  attention  to 
this  subject,  I  hoped  on  to  the  last  that  some  better  representative  'i>oidd 
have  taken  my  place.  However,  when  I  saw  my  name  down  on  the 
programme,  I  remembered  the  watchword  of  one  of  England's  great 
sailors,  Nelsou,  that  "  England  expects  that  every  man  will  do  his 
duty."  I  may  say  that  that  is  oiir  sentiment  in  Canada  also  (cheers) ; 
so  I  determined,  however  inadequately,  to  endeavoiir  to  speak  briefly  of 
Sunday  school  work  in  Canada,  or,  at  least,  in  that  part  of  Canada 
from  which  I  come.  I  thought  at  first  the  subject  with  which  I  was 
to  deal  was  Sunday  school  work  in  Ontario,  and  that  half-a-dozen  other 
people  would  take  up  the  other  provinces. 

I  really  thought  the  province  of  Ontario  was  quite  enough  for  one 
to  deal  with ;  but,  when  I  found  that  to  that  were  added  all  the  other 
provinces  of  Canada,  some  of  them  very  much  larger  than  Ontario, 
and  that  I  was  expected  to  report  upon  all  those  provinces,  I  shrank 
back  almost  appalled  from  the  thought  of  imder taking  such  a  work. 
When  you  remember  that  Canada  is  forty  times  larger  than  England, 
Scotland,  Ireland,  and  Wales ;  sixteen  times  larger  than  the  great 
G-erman  Empire ;  and  that  three  great  empii-cs  the  size  of  your  Indian 


Ill  (Jancitla.  7-^ 

Empire — of  oui-  liulian  Einiure — (clicers) — could  bo  cai-red  out.  of 
Canada,  you  will  not  wondci-  tluit  I  slirank  back  when  I  was  asked  to 
S))eak  of  this  great  Dominion  of  Canada. 

Wlion  I  started  for  this  country  we  travelled  tliousands  of  miles  in 
Canadian  waters — nearly  the  greater  jiart  of  flic  jourucj'  from  Ontario 
here  was  through  Canadian  territory.  Although  in  some  resijccts 
Canada  is  tlio  newest — or  is  called  the  newest — country  in  the  world, 
in  other  respects  it  is  undoubtedly  one  of  tlie  oldest  countries  in  the 
world.     (Laughter.) 

If  Sii*  William  Dawson — (cheers) — noted  no  lotss  for  his  scientific 
attainments  tlian  for  his  religious  character  and  Christian  activities — 
if  he  were  here,  he  would  tell  you  that  Canada  was  tlie  oldest  country 
in  the  world — a  great  deal  older  than  Great  Britain — (laughter) — tliat 
it  emerged  out  of  the  primeval  oceans  long  before  Great  Britain,  and 
that  the  oldest  rocks  in  the  world  are  the  great  Laurentian  strata  that 
jut  out  when  you  enter  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  He  woidd  tell  you 
that  the  oldest  inhabitant  of  this  world  was  a  Canadian.  (Laughter.) 
And  it  was  Sir  William  Dawson  who  discovered  liim,  and  describes 
huu  in  his  well-known  book.     (Laughter.) 

If  we  knew  the  liistory  of  the  first  Canadian,  we  would  know  tho 
history  of  the  world. 

But  to  deal  with  the  Sunday  school  record  of  Canada.  I  do  not 
think  that  anywhere  Sunday  school  work  has  won  grander  trophies,  or 
has  exhibited  greater  and  more  enthusiastic  endeavour  than  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.  Though  I  am  an  alien  and  a  stranger  from  far 
over  the  sea — (cries  of  "  No,  no  !  ") — I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that, 
and  that  you  recognise  me  as  one  of  yourselves.  I  may  say  that,  as  I 
stood  the  other  day  in  Westminster  Abbey,  and  laid  my  hands  upon  a 
plinth  that  had  been  carved  by  hands  that  had  mouldered  into  the  dust 
800  years  ago,  though  I  was  a  stranger  in  this  country,  I  felt  that  I 
had  a  heart  and  part  in  all  the  thrdling  memories  of  that  gi'eat  Abbey, 
and  I  felt  that  in  our  new  land  we  had  instilled  all  those  old  traditions, 
those  grand  traditions,  those  glorious  principles  of  the  British  Con- 
stitution, from  which  we  have  never  gone  back.  I  feel  that  we  have  a 
double  interest  in  this  old  country,  and  that  we  never  can  feel  aliens  ov 
strangers  in  it.     (Loud  cheers.) 

I  was  glad  to  see  the  bust  of  a  great  American  in  that  old  Abbe\-.  I 
was  glad  to  see  the  bust  of  Longfellow — (cheers) — beside  that  of 
Chancer.  I  was  glad  to  see  the  two  countries  so  associated,  so  bound 
together  by  bonds  of  love,  as  they  ought  always  to  be,  in  the  mai'ch 
onward  for  the  glory  of  the  world  and  the  glory  of  om-  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.     (Cheers.) 

It  is  my  privilege  to  be  brought  in  contact  with  a  gi-eat  many 
Sunday  school  workers  all  over  the  Dominion,  and  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  ;  from  the  mid-ocean  island  of  Newfoundland  to  the  great 
Pacific  island  of  Vancouver  there  come  letters  to  me  in  connection  with 
o\w  Sunday  school  work  that  fill  my  eyes  witli  tears  and  touch  my 


74  Organized  Siuulay  School  Wurh : 

heart  witli  sympathy.  I  know  that  sunilav  letters  greet  brethren  of 
the  other  churches  in  Canada,  and  that  together  we  are  doing  a  great 
work  for  the  Lord  and  Master  all  oxev  that  vast  Dominion. 

The  wonderful  Sunday  school  woi'k  of  Canada  is  carried  on  luidcr 
the  organization  of  the  various  Sunday  school  associations.  The 
greater  part  is  under  the  control  and  guidance  of  the  two  associations 
of  Toronto  and  Quebec.  There  is  a  Sunday  School  Association  in 
Quebec  "which  is  over  fifty -tlu'ee  years  old,  and  which  has  been  in  acdvc 
work  all  that  time.  It  covers  the  province  of  Quebec,  and  part  of  the 
province  of  Ontario  as  well. 

There  is  also  the  Ontario  Association,  and  one  for  tlie  eastern 
provinces,  but  I  do  not  know  definitely  what  the  western  associations 
of  the  Dominion  are,  for,  it  must  be  remembered,  mo  are  in  Ontario 
much  nearer  to  you  here  than  we  are  to  our  provinces  in  the  west  of 
Canada. 

I  made  a  tour  through  part  of  the  eastern  provinces  a  year  or  t^^•o 
ago,  and  in  many  instances  I  found  that  the  nearest  neighbour — the 
nearest  ministerial  neighbour  of  some  of  the  ministers  I  called  upon — 
was  150  miles  away.  That  is  but  an  instance,  but  a  type  of  tlic  ^\holo 
Dommion,  and  a  great  proof  of  the  urgent  need  for  oi'ganizations  for 
the  carrying  on  of  tliis  great  Sunday  school  work.     (Clicers.) 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  Sunday  school  workers  are  building  beacon 
lights  in  every  part  of  the  Dominion  ;  all  round  the  stormy  coasts  of 
Newfoundland,  away  to  the  peninsula  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  far  up  into 
the  northern  washes  of  the  coimtry,  right  through  the  dense  region  of 
the  pine  forests  they  are  planting  then'  Sunday  schools  and  gathering 
the  childi-en  together — sometimes  in  old  saw  mills,  sometimes  in  old 
barns  and  wooden  shanties.  Wlierever  they  can  gather  them,  they  are 
brmgmg  them  up  in  the  nm-tiu'e  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  (Loud 
cheers.) 

One  of  the  grandest  featm-es  about  this  Sunday  school  work  is  that 
it  is  the  impaid  consecrated  work  of  volimtary  workers  iii  this  grandest 
of  all  services.  (Hear,  hear.)  There  is  a  gi'eat  army  of  over  half-a- 
million  who  are  doing  their  best  for  the  educating  and  moulding  of  the 
yoimg  opinion  of  the  Dominion  in  everything  that  is  rehgious,  and  wise, 
and  beautifid.  and  good,  and,  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  tell  you,  aro 
meetmg  with  a  marvellous  degree  of  success. 

The  country  has  benefited  wonderfidly  by  the  labours  of  these  con- 
secrated Simday  school  teachers.  Go  where  I  may — I  admu-e  your 
great  cities,  I  admu-e  your  grand  institutions — biit  go  where  I  may,  and 
see  all  I  may  when  I  am  abroad,  I  find  no  place  that  seems  to  me  in  all 
the  conditions  of  a  higher  Christian  civilization  to  equal  the  province 
of  Ontario  and  other  parts  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada.  We  have  there 
the  most  consolidated,  the  most  colossal,  the  most  solidly  intrenched 
Eomanism  that  is  on  the  face  of  the  earth ;  but,  notwithstanding  all 
that,  through  the  moulding  influences  of  the  Sunday  school  institutions 
and  other  Christian  institutions  of  oiu'  covmtiy,  we  have,  I  think,  a 


Ill  the   United  Stdtes.  75 

uiodi'l  land.     (Cheers.)     The  city  of  Toronto,  from  A\]iich  I  come,  cim 
outrival  tliis  great  cit}-  in  that  respect. 

I  do  not  wish  to  make  little  of  the  generous  hospKality  which  we 
have  received  from  your  Lord  Mayor ;  wo  are  profoundly  grateful  to 
liiui  for  it.  I  do  not  know  whether  the  Lord  Mayor  is  a  Sunday  school 
teaclicr,  but  when  the  great  International  Sunday  School  Convention 
met  in  Toronto  the  mayor  of  that  city  and  the  majority  of  the  corporate 
officers  of  that  city  were  Sunday  school  teachers.     (Cheers.) 

Our  leading  men  in  commercial  and  civic  life  are  engaged  many  of 
them  in  Smiday  school  work,  in  aggi'essive  Christian  work,  and  in  con- 
sequence our  land  rejoices  in  a  better  Sabbath  tlian  any  other  land  h\ 
the  world.  We  have  a  city  of  over  200,000  inhabitants,  where  not  a 
street  car  wheel  turns  on  a  Sabbath  Day,  not  an  onniibus  starts,  not 
a  di'inking  saloon  is  open  on  the  Sabbath  Day.  (Cheers.)  I  do  not 
know  any  city  of  its  size  which  has  so  few  public-houses.  Tlie  govern- 
ment of  the  province  of  Ontario  pays  for  the  car-hire  of  the  Sunday 
school  teachers  who  liave  to  travel  on  cars  to  their  work  on  Sunday 
morning. 

The  press — even  the  comic  papers,  the  JPunches  and  the  Judi/'x, 
or  whatever  else  yon  call  yom*  comic  papers — of  Canada  is  iii  hearty 
sympathy  with  the  temperance  movement  and  with  the  Sunday  school 
work.  Those  who  bear  my  voice  know  that  I  am  not  exaggerating  the 
benefits  that  have  accrued  in  my  own  country. 

I  wish  you  would  all  come  out  there.  We  get  a  great  many  English- 
men out  tliere,  and  we  would  like  a  great  many  more.  We  woidd  give 
you  a  liearty  Canadian  welcome,  just  such  as  wc  have  given  you  here. 
We  feel  that  we  are  not  strangers,  but  Ave  are  brethren  beloved,  and  wo 
should  give  you  such  a  welcome  as  will  rival  our  English  welcome  if 
you  come  to  ouj"  Canadian  hearths  and  homes. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ORaANIZATION  IN  THE  UNITED 

STATES. 

S^  Mr.  E.  Payson  Poetek  (Kew  Io;-7l). 

Mr.  President  and  fellow-workers,  I  am  sm-e  it  is  with  the  greatest 
pleasure  that  I  am  with  you  on  this  occasion.  Simday  school  work  is 
tlie  theme  for  oiu*  conversation  this  evening.  We  are  talking  now 
about  our  organizations  and  organized  Christian  work.  I  remember 
what  was  said  upon  the  floor  of  this  Convention  this  afternoon  in 
reference  to  what  this  organization  meant  in  the  individual  Sunday 
school. 

Permit  me  to  call  your  attention  a  httle  to  oiu- organization  of  Sunday 
schools,  as  we  call  it  in  our  country,  undenominational  organization, 
not  ignoring  om*  denominationaUsm,  for  we  all  know  that  Brother 
Jacobs  has  a  method  and  Bishop  Yincent  has  a  method.  We  belong  to 
our  denominations,  and  therefore  we  accept  our  denominationnlism  ;  we 


7G  Or<jmnze<l  Snndaii  Sdool  Work: 

do  not  io'norc  il,  but  wc  arc  miclenoiniuational  in  oui-  organization.  I 
Avill  call  yoiu-  attention  fii-st  to  a  map  of  the  United  States  :  a  simple 
glance  at  the  map  will  show  you  about  all  that  it  is  intended  that  the 
map  should  show  you.  Our  organization  includes  Canada,  Ne^-found- 
laud,  Labrador,  and  IBermuda.  The  statistics  presented  for  the  United 
States  are  as  complete  as  wo  can  make  them,  and  I  may  doubtless  saj' 
the  same  for  the  provmees  of  Canada,  but  these  statistics  are  not  com- 
plete. It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  if  wo  could  saj'  they  are  entirely 
satisliictory,  but  they  are  the  best  we  can  do. 

It  would  be  perfectly  safe  to  say  that  in  the  United  States  of  America 
we  have  10,000,000  connected  with  om*  Sunday  schools.  AVc  claim  in 
the  United  States  60,000,000  of  popidation,  and  this  woidd  give  us  about 
15  per  cent,  of  the  population  attending  the  Sunday  schools.  The  per- 
centage is  much  larger  in  some  States  than  it  is  h\  others,  but  we  have 
not  the  advantage  of  comparing  the  percentage  of  popidation  in  the  States 
at  this  time.  Each  government  of  the  United  States  collects  a  census 
of  the  population  once  in  ten  years,  and  in  the  census  of  1880  we  com- 
pared our  Sunday  school  statistics  with  the  censiis  of  the  population,  and 
we  found  that  the  census  ran  in  territories  very  low  down  from  7  per 
cent,  or  8  per  cent,  up  to  2-1  per  cent,  in  some  of  our  leading  States. 
Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland  touched  24  per  cent,  of  the 
]3opulation,  while  a  large  number  of  States  running  fi-om  Connecticut 
right  through  and  including  Nebraska  20  per  cent,  of  the  popidation 
attended  Sunday  school.  Special  attention  was  called  this  morning  to 
the  Eev.  Dr.  Kynoeb  and  the  influence  in  the  States  of  liis  Clu-istian 
Avork. 

Permit  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  statistical  tabic  of  the  cities 
of  the  United  States  of  100,000  popidation  and  over.  The  census  for 
these  cities  is  collected  better  than  the  census  for  oiu*  states  and  terri- 
tory, and  we  have  means  therefore  of  putting  down  the  popidation  for 
oiu-  leading  cities  ;  and  I  will  call  yoiu-  special  attention  to  the  five 
leading  cities  in  the  United  States.  Pirst,  the  city  of  New  York  witli 
its  popidation  of  1,585,000,  the  Sunday  school  attendance  is  187,000, 
being  16  per  cent,  of  the  population.  Now  it  is  well  known  to  om- 
American  delegates  that  the  city  of  New  York  is  not  an  American  city. 
I  suppose  that  the  city  of  London  is  an  English  city,  but  we  cannot 
say  that  jf  the  city  of  New  York.  The  city  of  New  York,  which  I 
represent  at  pi'esent,  is  made  up  very  largely  of  those  who  come  not 
from  England  alone,  but  from  every  portion  of  the  world.  We  would 
be  glad  if  a  great  many  more  came  from  England  than  from  other 
parts,  because  we  have  a  great  many  with  us  whom  we  cannot  call 
bretlu'en. 

Let  me  take  you  to  the  next  city — Philadelphia.  There  there  is  a 
population  of  1,300,000  with  18  per  cent,  of  population  in  the  Sunday 
schools.     That  is  a  city  of  brotherly  love  in  our  land. 

I  will  call  attention  next  to  the  thii-d  city,  Chicago,  which,  like  New 
York,  is  a  foreign  city  upon  American  land.    The  percentage  in  Chicago 


///    lite     I'littrd    Slillr.s.  77 

is  11.  Yuu  have  huai-d  soiiio  reportd  from  Chicago.  1  iioticc  in 
your  niorning  papers  tlicrc  has  been  a  gentleman  lost  sight  of  over 
thei-e,  and  they  do  not  know  what  has  become  of  liim.  Chicago  is  the 
most  wide-awake  city  in  this  world  as  a  Christian  city.  Tliere  is  no 
lialf-way  Christianity  in  tlie  city  of  Cliicago  ;  and  if  any  of  your 
l)rc'thivn  want  to  test  tliat  statement  let  them  go  out  and  see  for  them- 
selves. You  will  find  that  the  Cln-istian  people  of  Chicago  are  wide 
awake.  There  is  a  Christian  enthusiasm  which  goes  far  beyond  the  city 
of  Philadelpliia.  Whenever  you  read  the  statistics  remember  to  com- 
pai'e  the  circumstances  with  figures,  or  otherwise  you  will  misinterpret 
them  entirely. 

Let  me  call  your  attention  to  the  fourth  city,  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
with  20  per  cent,  of  the  population  in  the  Sunday  schools.  It  is  the 
city  of  the  chiu-ches.  Next  conies  Baltimore  with  20  per  cent.  Balti- 
more and  Maryland  report  in  their  statistics  not  only  Evangelical 
churches — and  they  include  also  the  Roman  Catholic  population — but, 
deducting  from  the  statistics  in  the  city  of  Baltimore  the  Romisli 
Church,  that  will  leave  us  18  per  cent,  of  Evangelical  churches  in 
Baltimore. 

I  wish  to  call  attention  to  one  phase  in  Sunday  school  work  wliicli 
we  are  trying  vei-y  hard  to  strengthen  in  our  land,  and  that  is  the  adult 
department  in  our  Sunday  schools.  It  has  been  my  privilege  to  reside 
in  Philadelpliia  dming  the  last  ten  years.  In  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  in  gathering  our  statistics,  there  was  hardly  a  sprinkluig  of 
adults  ill  the  Sunday  school.  There  have  been  distributed  amongst  the 
audience  some  special  statistical  reports  for  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
and  I  will  call  attention  to  the  table  for  a  moment.  You  will  find  in 
the  table  a  column  headed  "  Adidts'  Column  in  the  schools."  Of  the 
membership  of  187,000,  45,971  are  adult  scholars  in  the  Sunday  schools 
of  PhUadelpliia,  and  in  the  Protestant  Ejiiscopal  Church  every  report 
they  now  make  to  their  church  records  the  number  of  adult  scholars  in 
the  school  and  the  Protestant  adult  Sunday  school  teacliers. 

I  speak  of  that  especially,  because  in  that  church  there  has  been  a 
larger  increase  in  that  department  than  in  any  other.  If  you  add  to 
tlie  adidt  scholars  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  45,971,  the  teachers 
numbering  1G,937,  it  gives  us  a  total  of  62,908  adults  in  the  Sunday 
schools  of  Philadelphia — 32i  per  cent. — nearly  one-tlurd  of  all  the 
adults. 

I  wish  also  to  call  your  attention  again  to  the  deuomiiiations  as 
represented  in  this  table  for  tlie  city  of  Philadelphia.  It  gives  me 
pleasure  to  state  that  om*  work  is  carried  on  almost  entirely  denomina- 
tionally. On  the  Sunday  school  map  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia  you 
will  find  616  spots,  and  every  spot  represents  a  Sunday  school ;  and 
those  616  spots  were  in  different  colom-s,  blue  representing  the  Presbv- 
teriau.  Our  Methodist  brethren  are  very  active  in  Philadelphia. 
That  map  has  been  hung  up  ui  the  conventions  and  institutes  of 
Methodists  aiid  Baptists,  and  Presbyterians,  and  Episcopalian  denomi- 


78  Organized  Sauday  School  WorJc : 

nations,  and  certain  fields  have  been  pointed  out,  and  those  present  are 
asked,  "  Which  field  will  you  take  up  ?  " 

We  consider  it  a  very  safe  method  to  have  a  clmrcii,  take  a  Sabbath 
school,  and  stand  by  it,  and  foster  it  until  it  becomes  a  church. 
(Cheers.) 

STATISTICS.* 

I  want  to  say  again  that  our  statistics  are  very  unsatisfactory.  Our 
dear  brother  Hartley  knows  what  I  mean  by  that — how  difficult  it  is 
to  collect  statistics,  and  I  only  know  of  one  method  of  doing  it.  We 
cannot  do  it  through  our  denominations.  There  is  but  one  method  I 
have  learned  durrag  my  eighteen  years  of  service  as  Secretai-y  of  our 
United  States  Association,  and  that  is  through  the  local  organizations 
of  all  the  churches  and  Sunday  schools.  (Cheers.)  If  you  attempt 
to  collect  Sunday  schools  as  a  State  organizatioii,  you  will  fail.  The 
State  organization  is  too  large.  Yon  carry  it  down  to  county  organiza- 
tion, and  what  does  that  mean  ?  Sometimes  in  our  counties  there  arc 
forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  miles  to  look  after,  but  in  our  division  we  come 
down  to  six  mUes  squai-e  townships.  Therefore  Ave  say,  if  a  county  is 
organized  in  every  township  by  local  organizations  at  every  individual 
Smiday  school,  that  county  is  a  banner  county. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  refer  to  New  Jersey  especially  as  a 
banner  State.  Not  only  is  it  a  banner  State,  but  every  county  is  a 
banner  county,  and  every  township  is  a  Clmstian  State  organization 
for  Clu'istian  work. 

I  regard  this  as  the  greatest  Convention  ever  held.  This  is  a  gather- 
ing in  of  children  to  study  God's  work,  and  may  the  reports  of  this 
Convention  reacli  the  dark  portions  of  our  world,  that  they  may  be  lit 
with  the  light  of  the  Gospel  for  heaven ! 


Pa2}er  hy  Me.  B.  V.  Jacobs  {Chicar/o). 

Dear  Christian  brethren,  I  remarked  this  niornmg  tliat  we  some- 
times need  to  define  the  meaning  of  the  words  we  use.  In  Philadelphia 
some  months  ago  I  was  talking  to  our  dear  fi-iend  Dr.  TrambuU,  the 
Editor  of  the  Sanday  School  Times,  and  he  said  :  "  I  wish  to  impress 
upon  you  by  means  of  a  story  an  illustration  of  the  difi'erence  between 
a  thing  and  the  name  of  a  thing.  There  was  a  coloured  man  in  llie 
city  standing  at  the  corner  of  a  street  on  a  cold  day  ofiering  hot  mutton 
pies  for  five  cents,  and  a  man,  attracted  by  that,  probably  felt  the 
necessity  for  a  mutton  pie  or  something  else,  and  finally  paid  the  money 
and  took  the  pie,  and,  biting  down  through  half  of  it,  coidd  not  find 
the  mutton  ;  and  he  complained  to  the  man,  and  asked  why  he  called 
out  hot  mutton  pies,  and  he  replied,  '  I  said  nothing  of  the  kind ;  I 
said  that  is  the  name  of  it.'  " 

*  For  tabulated  statistics,  sec  AppeiKli:>:, 


In  the  United  States.  79 

The  question  is,  What  do  we  mean  by  organization  ?  We  mean  the 
definition  that  we  have  appHed  to  the  first  international  motto ;  we 
liave  put  it  into  three  short  words  of  three  letters  each,  *'  All  for  All" — 
Mie  union  of  all  Christians  for  the  salvation  of  all  others. 

The  first  word  of  oui-  motto  suggests  the  importance  of  in  6omo 
way  or  another  securing  the  miiou  of  these  Christians.  If  we  were 
to  construct  a  railway  m  England  or  in  America,  we  would  have  a  plan 
and  bring  together  certain  gentlemen  whom  we  beUeved  competent  to 
discharge  the  duty,  and  carefully  to  consider  the  plan.  If  we  were 
to  discuss  any  great  problem  in  either  England  or  America,  very  likely 
we  would  resolve  upon  some  plan  of  co-operation  and  organization. 
You  may  have  passed  through  some  parliamentoi-y  or  other  election 
in  England  in  your  day,  and  you  may  have  found  out  that  those 
persons  who  are  anxious  to  serve  the  people  for  the  glory  and  honour 
which  attach  to  it  are  anxious  to  secm-e  their  own  success,  and  they 
organize  the  matter  thoroughly  and  work  most  persistently  to  accom- 
plish that  object. 

It  is  a  very  singular  thing  that  if  Christians,  whether  Sunday  school 
workers  or  not,  assume  they  cannot  do  without  their  plan,  without 
their  co-operation,  without  the  vmion  of  effort,  without  persistent 
determined  purpose  behind  the  plan,  that  they  will  steadily  push  on 
to  success. 

In  the  United  States  you  have  heard  Mr.  Porter  say  we  have  in 
the  Sunday  schools  at  this  time  about  10,000,000  of  people,  and  about 
one-sixth  of  the  entire  population  of  the  United  States  are  in  Sunday 
schools.  It  is  not  what  it  ought  to  be,  but  thank  God  there  is  that 
much  of  it.  There  is  one-sixth  of  the  entire  population  in  the  Sunday 
schools.  We  hare  in  the  Sunday  schools  10,000,000  of  people.  Of 
these  1,250,000  are  ofijcers  and  teachers  in  our  schools.  And  let  me 
remind  you  that  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  Great  Britain 
and  thi-oughout  the  world,  these  Sunday  school  workers  are  the  peers 
of  any  other  men  that  tread  the  earth. 

We  number  among  the  ranks  of  Sunday  school  teachers  some  of  the 
most  eminent,  learned,  scientific,  most  honest  and  faithful  men  who 
ever  trod  the  earth  suace  the  Lord  of  Glory  went  home;  and  the  day 
is  past  when  men  can  stand  up  and  sneeringly  talk  about  Smiday 
school  teachers  as  incompetent  young  men  and  women,  when  we  have 
men  like  Dr.  John  Hall,  Bishop  Yincent,  and  H.  C.  TrmnbuU. 

Let  us  be  thorouglily  well  persuaded  of  the  dignity  as  well  as  of  the 
importance  of  oiu*  work.  Here  we  ai-e  engaged  in  no  light  or  small 
matter,  and  tlie  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  practically  skimmed  the  chm-ch 
and  poured  the  cream  of  it  into  the  Sunday  schools. 

I  am  the  mouthpiece  of  as  vast  a  country  as  the  sun  ever  shone 
upon,  and  therefore  I  speak  confidently,  and  you  may  say  prudently. 
There  is  another  thing,  and  that  is,  that  the  men  and  Avomeu  are  most 
practical.  Theirs  is  an  unpaid  and  voluntary  service.  Mr.  Hartley 
asked  why  did  not  we  have  two  Sunday  schools  a  week  ?     I  wish  he 


80  Onjanized  Sunday  School  Work: 

know  the  work  we  do,  and  I  wish  he  knew  what  we  do  duiing  the  six 
long  days  in  the  week. 

Our  sessions  are  one  and  a  half  to  one  and  three  quarter  houi-s,  and 
tlie  teachers  have  to  go  into  the  House  of  God  and  get  something  to 
cat  for  themselves  that  has  been  prepared  by  their  pastors  and  others 
who  ai'e  quahfied  to  teach  them.  They  need  some  httle  time  for 
personal  attention  to  these  people.  It  is  possible  they  may  have  too 
much  crowded  into  one  day  of  twelve  or  fourteen  hours  to  do  it 
thoroughly  well. 

I  am  not  trying  to  persuade  you  to  abandon  the  plan  you  have ;  I 
liave  not  come  to  dictate  to  you,  but,  like  the  boy  who  held  a  candle 
for  the  minister  to  preach,  I  like  to  throw  a  httle  Ught  on  the  subject 
if  it  is  possible.  One  thing  we  need  is  light  on  the  subject.  I  snid 
that  we  had  1,750,000  of  teachers.  Mr.  Porter  has  shown  you  that 
a  very  reasonable  percentage  of  the  remainder  are  also  adult  scholars. 
It  leaves  us  about  7,000,000  childi'en  and  youth. 

I  have  passed  by  two  or  thi-ee  of  yoixi-  buildings,  and  I  have  seen  an 
inscription  that  was  cei-tainly  a  strange  one  to  me.  It  was  a  large 
sign,  paint«d  in  bold  letters,  "Sunday  school  for  Boys,  Girls,  and 
Infants,"  as  much  as  to  say  do  not  any  man  step  in  here  except  at  the 
peril  of  his  life. 

Now  we  have  7,000,000  of  children  and  youth,  and  yet  the  census  of 
the  United  States  Government  reveals  to  us  the  fact  that  between  the 
ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  we  have  18,000,000  of  children  and  youth 
in  the  United  States.  There  are  7,000,000  in  Sunday  schools,  so  that 
there  are  11,000,000  out,  and  the  great  problem  is  how  shall  we  reach 
the  11,000,000.  I  submit  it  is  our  business  as  Chi'istian  men  to  look 
about  us  and  see  if  we  cannot  find  a  plan  by  which  to  reach  them. 

A  fi'iend  of  mine  told  a  story  about  a  youngster  who  wanted  to  catch 
a  colt.  The  youngster  went  up  to  the  colt,  enticing  it  with  some  corn 
in  one  hand  but  having  a  halter  in  the  other.  When  he  saw  a  chance 
he  slipped  the  halter  over  the  colt's  head,  but  the  colt  dashed  away, 
dragging  the  youngster  with  him  across  a  ploughed  field.  "When  they 
had  gone  about  half  a  mile,  the  yoimgster  said  :  "  Ah,  I  see  now  where 
I  missed  him !  "  (Laughter.)  What  is  the  use  of  going  on  with  the 
chm'ch  service  that  reaches  but  a  handful  of  people  ?  If  the  Sunday 
school  does  not  reach  the  people,  let  us  look  about  and  see  what 
plan  will  reach  them.  The  question  is  what  is  it  we  are  after ;  what  is 
the  object  before  us  ?  If  we  can  find  the  way  to  it,  we  shall  accom- 
plish the  result. 

You  know  plainness  is  the  beauty  of  teaching.  What  good  is  a 
golden  key  that  will  not  open  the  lock  P  Let  us  find  a  way  to  tlio 
solution  of  the  problem,  and  in  all  the  strength  that  God  will  give  us 
let  us  push  that  plan  to  complete  success.  In  order  that  we  might 
succeed  in  this  work,  we  tried  to  gather  Christian  men  together  for  the 
consideration  of  the  subject  before  us.  We  invited  them  to  come.  It  is 
not  enough  in  our  country  to  send  a  postal  card.     We  have  to  see  them 


//(    lltr    (J II lied  Slahs.  81 

aiul  work  in  oi'ilcr  lo  gi-(   llic^i'  (.'liri.-^lian   iiicii,   I'ur  iuaii\  ol' lliom  arc 
("iiU  ofprejiuline. 

One  of  the  greiiti'st  things  for  any  .Smuliiy  school  worker  in  (he  citv 
or  country  is  to  li;no  a  dear  untleritandiug  before  the  Christian 
ministers  and  workers,  in  the  lirst  place,  and  see  what,  they  are  trying  to 
do ;  and  then  gathering  them  togctlicr  in  convention,  as  we  call  it,  and 
point  out  to  tlicni  tlie  various  places  on  the  map  that  require  to  be 
attended  to.  That  map  will  show  the  meeting  tlie  state  of  count,\  - 
organization  in  the  United  States  and  tlirough  tlie  North  American 
provinces.  We  look  over  the  map  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
^vhere  are  the  most  destitute  and  needy  fields  and  not  for  the  purposes 
of  reporting  our  past  success  and  past  work.  What  is  the  thiu"  that 
needs  to  bo  done.  We  consult  together  as  to  wluit  plan  can  be  adopted 
to  reach  these  people.  We  plan  the  work,  and  put  it  in  the  hands  of 
a  committee.  That  committee  tries  to  reach  brethren  in  the  States. 
They  call  Christian  workers  into  the  state  or  territory  or  jjrovincial 
meetings  called  Conventions.  "\Ve  hang  up  a  map  divided  into  sections 
called  counties,  and  we  look  that  map  over  and  try  to  get  men  who 
understand  the  work  to  go  over  the  counties.  Our  executive  committee 
liave  been  in  every  one  of  these  coimties ;  they  are  men  who  have 
left  business  and  gone  into  this  work,  men  who  have  given  a  certain 
portion  of  their  time  aiid  have  gone  into  the  counties  to  show  how  we 
jiavo  succeeded  at  home.  When  we  have  been  able  to  do  so,  wc 
have  hired  certain  brethren  to  help  them.  We  are  now  having  each 
year  a  Coua  ention  in  every  one  of  the  hundred-and-two  comities,  and 
tliero  is  more  tluui  one  county  which  holds  two  conventions  in  the 
year. 

One  gentleman  has  said  that  they  had  two  Sunday  schools  in  a  week. 
That  reminds  me  of  a  gentleman  who  had  said,  "  Let  us  have  an  annual 
Convention  every  three  months."  (Laiighter.)  We  have  the  best  nu-n  in 
the  county  to  do  the  work.  Some  of  the  pastors  leave  the  pulpits, 
isome  superintendents  leave  the  schools,  and  sometunes  men  carry 
^^•orkers  with  them  in  a.  waggon  and  call  upon  those  workers  who 
cainiot  go  to  the  large  meetings,  and  tell  them  of  the  blessings  that  they 
have  received  at  the  larger  meetings. 

Wo  are  trying  to  carry  light  into  dark  places.  That  is  wlicro  wo 
need  light ;  not  so  much  the  light  in  the  dark  valley — thank  God,  there 
will  be  no  dai-kness  there! — but  we  need  the  light  in  the  dark  alleys,  in 
the  dark  wretched  places  in  this  earth,  where  the  Sun  of  Eightoousncss 
has  not  slione,  and  where  the  sun  .scarcely  e\ei'  shines. 

Then,  again,  we  have  school  disti-icts  which  are  cut  up  into  little 
sections  of  a  mile  or  half  a  mile  square,  and  those  who  leave  tlie  townships 
go  into  a  school  district  and  mto  evei-y  little  schoolhouse  throughout  the 
coiuitry.  In  one  state,  where  there  were  1534  to\^nisliips,  last  year  wc 
have  had  1300  Sunday  school  Conventions.  In  one  state,  although  we 
may  have  a  largo  number  of  people  working  in  the  schools  and  of 
scholars,  yet  there  may  be  just  one  boy  we  have  not  got.     That  boy  is 

G 


82  Orf/anized  Sitndai/  School  Ww^  : 

jusb  the  one  wo  are  after,  that  boy  that  nobody  has  ever  reaehecl,  that 
boy  that  somebody  loves,  and  that  boy  that  Jesus  wants. 

One  of  om-  greatest  Amerieans,  Horace  Mann,  was  speating  in 
Massachusetts,  and  he  pouited  to  the  great  pile  erected  for  waif  boys, 
and  he  made  the  assertion  that  the  money  was  well  spent  if  it  saved 
only  one  boy.  After  the  lecture  was  over,  one  friend  Mas  hoard  to  ask 
another  "  Do  you  not  think  Mr.  Maun  was  vei-y  extreme  in  his  state- 
meut  ? "  The  other  man  tightened  his  hand  tipon  the  arm  of  his 
friend  and  stammered  out,  "  Not  if  it  was  my  son."  But  this  boy  is 
somebody's  son. 

One  night  I  went  to  a  meeting,  and  I  was  permitted  to  speak  for  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  was  speaking  from  the  verse  "  Seek  ye  fu-st  the 
kingdom  of  God,  and  His  righteousness."  At  the  close  there  were  some 
inquiries,  and  I  said,  "  If  there  is  a  person  wlio  has  found  Christ  since 
last  Sunday  let  him  come  forward,"  and  a  man  came  forward  and  said, 
"  I  am  the  man."  He  said,  "  My  father  was  a  preacher  in  England, 
and  I  have  been  trained  in  a  Sunday  school ;  I  was  a  wearying  boy, 
and  got  to  drinking,  and  after  having  wearied  out  all  places  at  home  I 
came  to  America,  and  I  have  wandered  round  here,  and  I  came  here 
hanging  on  a  fi-eight  car,  and  while  here  in  Chicago  I  thought  I  would 
steal  something,  and  thus  get  some  rest  for  a  few  weeks."  (Fancy  a 
man  deliberating  as  to  whether  he  would  not  steal  for  the  sake  of 
getting  a  few  weeks'  rest !)  "  While  here,  I  saw  a  notice  iip,  '  A  man 
wanted ;'  it  was  to  take  a  board  at  one  dollar  a  day.  During  his  walk 
he  was  attracted  by  a  sign,  '  Gospel  meetmg  every  evening.'  I  went  m, 
and  I  said  to  myself,  I  have  not  heard  a  sermon  for  fifteen  years  ;  and 
as  I  went  in  there  was  a  woman  praying.  I  listened,  and  I  said,  '  My 
God,  here  is  my  mother  come  back,'  and  I  went  out  at  the  close  of  that 
meeting  and  resolved  to  come  the  next  night.  I  came  in  half  drmik 
and  listened  to  the  sermon  or  message  about '  seeking  first,'  and  I  said, 
'  I  will  seek  Him  now.' "  He  was  with  lis  for  a  few  months,  after 
which  he  said,  "  I  am  going  back  to  Old  England." 

I  had  a  letter  from  him  in  which  he  said,  "  Dear  brother,  last  Lord's 
Day  I  was  permitted  to  stand  in  the  pulpit  where  my  father  used  to 
preach,  and  I  told  the  story  of  Jesus  and  His  love."  I  have  told  you 
that  somebody's  boy  is  worth  reaching. 

Men  of  England  and  America,  we  can  aflPord  to  leave  banks  and  shops 
and  come  together  once  in  a  while  and  compare  om*  plans  which  we 
lia-\e  already  tried,  and  seek  to  know  if  there  are  any  better.  That  is 
what  we  call  missionary  work  and  organization  for  evangelization. 
We  must  have  a  pm-pose  at  the  Tbrone.  What  is  the  use  of  praying 
if  we  have  nothing  to  pray  for?  We  must  have  a  piu'pose  if  we  work. 
I  was  at  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at  Mount  Hermou 
recently.  You  can  tell  a  Moimt  Hermon  boy  as  far  as  you  can  see 
him,  for  every  one  has  a  Bible  under  his  arm,  and  on  meeting  one  of 
those  boys  he  said  to  me,  "  Dear  friend,  what  is  the  use  of  a  gun  xmless 
it  shoots  ?  "     What  is  the  use  of  a  Sunday  school  vmless  you  hit  the 


///   the    United  HlcUes,  g3 

inarlc  ?  What  is  the  use  of  the  Convention  unless  it  develops  into  some- 
thing beside  talk  ?  (Hear,  hear.)  I  am  only  suggesting  to  you  that  this 
is  a  good  thing. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  they  have  a  house-to-house  visitation, 
and  thoy  \isit  every  family  in  the  township,  and  we  have  -whole  counties 
which  have  been  visited  man  by  man,  house  by  house,  in  every  district. 

There  is  a  pm-pose  behind  that  work.  It  cannot  bo  called  Denomi- 
national, it  cannot  be  called  Undenommational.  We  have  to  get  all 
the  societies  into  one  crucible  and  separate  the  best  from  that  wliich  is 
not  so  good.  Some  of  the  refuse  material  is  most  precious,  and  tho 
problem  is,  How  shall  we  best  reach  it  in  a  proper  manner  ?  how  shall 
we  reach  the  masses  ?  My  answer  is,  "  Reach  one  mass,  and  then  ti*y  the 
other,  and  then  try  another."  How  many  of  us  personally  Christian 
men  who  have  loved  Christ  have  made  an  honest  effort  to  reach  one 
sinner  this  year?  No  matter  where  they  are,  the  love  of  God  has 
made  them  all  welcome,  and  the  blood  of  Christ  will  make  them  all  fit. 

Let  us  be  reminded  that  among  the  mass  there  is  a  multitude.  We 
liave  a  great  corpoi'atiou  in  om-  country  called  the  Standard  Oil 
Company.  One  day,  when  going  over  then-  works,  the  manager  told  me 
that  in  all  theii-  great  work  they  foimd  that  22  per  cent,  of  the  gross 
product  they  could  never  use.  It  was  that  which  was  left  when  they 
liad  taken  oif  all  they  could  possibly  use,  and  they  tlu-ew  it  into  the 
river,  until  the  authorities  said  that  they  would  not  allow  them  to 
pollute  the  stream  any  more.  Then  they  dug  a  pit  and  imdertook  to 
destroy  it  by  fire ;  but  the  quantity  was  so  gi-eat  and  the  fii-e  was  so  hot 
tliat  it  nearly  biu"ut  the  men  who  were  attendmg  to  it.  Chemists  then 
went  to  work  upon  it,  and  then  they  discovered  paraffin,  which  is  the 
most  profitable  portion,  according  to  its  quantity,  of  any  tiling  that  they 
now  got  from  the  raw  product.  I  remarked  to  him  :  "  You  were  com- 
pelled to  discover  a  ■^^'ay  whereby  you  could  make  yourselves  a  little 
richer  than  before  ?  " 

That  is  the  problem  before  us.  If  we  can  discover  how  to  reach 
that  refuse  mass,  we  shall  be  richer  om-selves — not  only  the  country  iu 
which  we  live,  the  churches  of  which  we  are  members,  but  heaven 
itself  and  Clod  Himself :  for  His  riches  consist  in  the  souls  that  have 
been  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ. 

Now,  our  plan  for  organization  includes  similar  steps,  for  we  have 
come  to  realize  the  fact  that  we  have  to  train  that  multitude  of  yoimg 
Christians,  and  we  have  come  to  the  belief  that  the  Simday  school  is  a 
necessity. 

Here  is  a  short  argument  for  it.  You  may  watch  tho  frightfu 
process  that  is  abeady  going  on.  Let  me  remind  you  that  I  am  not 
unmindful  of  the  fact  that  there  are  many  servants  of  God  that  are  iu 
the  habit  of  preaching  expository  sermons,  but  in  the  pulpit  of  America 
there  is  very  little  teacliiug  of  the  Word  of  God.  I  do  not  mean  to  say 
there  is  poor  preaching.  There  is  very  little  of  what  we  call  the 
teaching  of  the  Word  of  God  from  the  pulpit. 

a  2 


84  Organized  Sunday  School  Work : 

I  am  not  at  all  posted,  as  we  say,  or  advised,  as  to  the  coudition  of 
affairs  on  this  side  of  the  water.  You  may  be  far  iu  advance  of  iis 
about  that,  but  I  will  remind  you  that  there  is  very  little  teachiag  ot 
the  Word  of  Clod  in  prayer-meetings.  It  is  what  we  call  an  experience 
meeting,  and  it  is  sometimes  a  httle  difficult  to  tell  where  we  get  the 
experience  from.  It  is  like  that  Latin  proverb,  "  Out  of  nothing 
nothing  can  come."  We  are  living  in  a  day  when  family  worship  is 
badly  neglected  in  some  parts  of  the  world.  In  one  of  ovu'  great 
Conventions  we  spent  one  hour  and  a  half  on  the  topic  how  we  should 
use  the  Bible  iu  family  Avorship,  and  when  we  asked  those  who  were 
able  to  rise  and  testify  that  their  family  worship  was  a  success  and  told 
lis  how  they  made  it,  the  number  was  vei-y  few.  It  may  have  been 
an  exception,  but  I  am  a  httle  afraid  it  was  not.  Is  there  so  much 
personal  study  of  the  Word  of  God  as  there  ought  to  be  ?  Let  me  ask 
.  you  one  plain  question  :  How  many  minutes  of  personal  study  have  you 
given  to  the  Book  to-day? — (Do  not  answer  it  to  me) — and  yesterday, 
and  the  day  before,  and  all  the  days  ?  We  Chi'istians,  do  we  study  the 
Word  of  Grod  ?  Do  we  ?  Is  the  Sunday  school  the  only  place  whei-e 
the  clnirch  professedly  comes  together  for  the  study  of  the  Word? 
Then,  how  wonderful  a  matter  is  that  school,  and  how  it  demands  the 
attention  and  co-operation  and  attendance  of  the  members  of  the 
chm-ch  that  it  may  be  turned  into  a  blessing !  No  definition  will 
satisfy  me  that  separates  it  from  the  chiu'ch.  It  is  the  church 
gathered  for  the  study  of  the  Word  of  God. 

And  let  me  remind  you  that  it  is  om-  business  to  study  that  Book. 
We  are  Christians,  and  Christians  who  believe  in  the  divinity  and 
atonement  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  is  there  who  is  weak-minded 
enough  to  stand  firm  on  the  Rock,  Jesus  Chi-ist  the  Lord  ?  My  old 
friend  Dr.  Hastings,  who  has  been  here,  wi'ote  a  little  story  in  a 
wonderful  tract  about  the  Bible.  Wise  men  or  philosophers  have 
twenty-seven  times  publicly  declared  that  the  Bible  has  been  upset,  but 
he  noticed  that  it  was  like  one  of  the  cubes  of  granite  out  of  his  own 
hiUs — it  was  just  as  high,  just  as  wide,  just  as  deep,  just  as  heavy  as 
it  Avas  before.  They  had  only  tiu-ned  it  over  and  got  another  face 
of  the  granite  up. 

Ill  Louisville,  Kentucky,  an  Irishman  was  buLldmg  a  wall,  when  a 
companion  said  to  him  that  the  wall  would  fall  down.  The  Irishman 
rephed  that  it  would  not  matter  if  it  did,  for  he  was  building  it  3 
feet  high  and  4  feet  wide,  and  if  it  fell  over  it  would  be  higher  than 
it  was  origuiaUy.  The  Lord  can  build  a  waU  3  feet  high  and  4 
feet  thick,  and  eveiy  time  they  tip  it  over  it  is  a  little  higher  and 
thicker  and  broader  than  ever  it  was.  Not  one  of  His  promises  has 
been  echpsed,  and  thank  God  none  of  them  have  been  broken.  Nothing 
like  the  privilege  we  enjoy  was  ever  given  to  an  equal  number  of  men 
and  women  on  earth. 

We  ought  to  thank  God  for  puttmg  the  Book  into  our  hands,  and 
giving   us  the  privilege  of  teaching  it  to  Great  Britain  and  America 


In  the   United  Slatcus  85 

and  the  whole  woi-kl.  yupposiiig  God  were  to  ofler  to  this  ComeiUioii 
the  privilege  of  chooshig  a  Held  where  they  would  labour,  some  would 
say  Old  England,  some  Anieriea,  some  (he  lands  of  the  East.  Suppose 
God  added  another  privilege  and  said,  "Ciioose  not  only  where  you  will 
labour,  but  what  you  will  do,"  you  \\  ould  choose  to  be  teaehers.  How 
do  I  know  ?  Because  it  is  the  supreme  thing.  How  do  I  know  that? 
Jesus  Himself  chose  it.  You  say  that  He  was  a  preacher.  I  admit  His 
sermons,  but  He  was  a  great  teacher.  That  was  His  work,  and  we  will 
choose  to  be  teaehers. 

Now,  if  the  Lord  says, "  Choose  w  horn  you  will  teach,"  would  not  you 
say  the  cliildren  and  the  youth  ?  Is  there  any  soil  like  that  in  which  to 
sow  the  seed?  Would  that  God  would  give  us  the  privilege  to  see 
Sunday  schools  march  bv  to-night.  You  woidd  say,  "Lord  Jesus,  let 
me  teach  them ;  "  and,  if  He  added,  "  What  will  you  teach  ?  "  would  not 
you  say,  "  The  Word  "  ?  Would  not  you  take  that  Word  and  all  those 
foiu"  strands  of  that  mighty  Cable  w  hich  the  Son  of  God  has  put  into 
the  hand  of  the  teachers  of  this  world  ?  Sunday  school  teaehers,  there 
is  no  calling  like  that,  and  no  privilege  like  that,  and  our  work  is  to 
teach  !  What  woi'k  is  this  teacliing  ?  You  say  it  is  education.  I  would 
remind  you  that  we  have  two  mighty  pillars  on  which  the  whole  fabric 
of  the  governments  of  the  world  rests — religion  and  education;  and,  if 
the  arch  be  sprung  upon  them,  they  will  hold  up  the  Government  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  Government  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Governments  of  the  world.  That  work  of  education  is  the  work  of 
building.  That  is  our  third  motto.  We  gather  that  we  may  teach. 
That  is  our  third  plan  :  to  build  them  up  in  tlie  knowledge  of  the  ti'uth 
and  to  preach  that  Book.  How  shall  we  qualify  for  teaching  ?  Our 
Conventions  have  to  take  the  form  of  an  institute.  Wlien  we  first 
gather  a  Convention,  it  is  with  a  view  of  institute  work.  We  must 
go  to  those  who  can  teach  us  exactly  the  thing  we  wish  to  know,  and 
we  must  allow  somebody  to  select  the  men  and  the  Avomen  who  will 
try  to  teach  us.  I  wish  I  could  say  how  much  I  owe  to  the  men  whom 
I  have  been  privileged  to  hear  in  these  Conventions.  You  must  have 
enthusiasm,  but  enthusiasm  must  be  linked  with  something  else.  There 
must  be  practical  work  behind  it.  You  must  have  sometliing  that  can 
draw  a  lot  of  men  who  must  be  educated  if  they  are  going  to  be 
gathered  together.  Therefore  we  j^lan  not  only  for  this  institute,  but 
for  other  institutes,  and  we  send  the  best  women  and  the  best  men  in 
America  to  teach  them.  Some  of  om*  institutes  take  on  the  work. 
We  lia\'e  another  plan  in  om*  large  city  which  works  admirably.  In 
our  own  city  we  gather  the  superintendent  and  other  officers  in  the 
school  into  what  we  call  a  superintendents'  association,  holding 
meetings  to  see  what  can  be  done  for  the  development  and  improvement 
of  the  plan  of  working  our  Sunday  schools.  We  never  think  of 
listening  to  the  report  of  any  Sunday  school  in  oiu*  Convention, 
we  never  think  of  listening  to  the  report  of  a  society  in  our  Con- 
vention ;  we  listen   to  townsliips.     We  gather  in  our  larger  societies. 


86  Organized  Sunday  School   Worh : 

but  classes   sometimes,   as   in  llic  case   of  Boston,  amount,   to    2000 
teachers. 

I  was  present  at  a  meeting  of  2000  teachers  gatiiered  out  of  a  large 
number  of  townships,  and  they  had  come  together  to  talk  o^er  this 
matter  of  Simday  school  organization. 

There  is  no  difficulty  about  it,  it  simply  needs  the  effort  to  do  the 
■work.  Oui"  idea  of  a  Smaday  school  Convention  goes  a  little  further. 
We  say  that  God  has  done  wonderful  things  for  America  and  Great 
Britain,  and  now  there  is  our  field  beyond  the  sea. 

You  will  remember  the  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles  said,  "  I  am  a  debtor 
both  to  the  Greeks  and  the  barbarians."  Why  should  the  splendid 
Paul  be  a  debtor  to  the  barbarians  ?  It  was  because  he  had  that 
without  which  these  barbarians  would  perish.  The  Son  of  God  would 
be  able  to  say.  He  was  a  debtor  to  the  barbarians,  and  He  came  down  to 
give  them  the  Gospel  of  His  life  and  love  that  they  might  be  saved. 
We  organize  and  send  out  the  best  teachers  we  have  across  the  sea,  and 
I  hope  this  Convention  or  some  permanent  committee  will  decide  to 
select  the  best  workers  in  Great  Britain  to  do  the  work  here,  and  also 
those  in  America  to  do  the  work  there.  If  we  have  crossed  the 
Atlantic  in  the  Sunday  school  steamship,  shall  we  not  cross  the  Pacific  ? 
The  army  must  follow.  What  are  we  doing  in  England  and  what  are 
we  doing  in  America  ? 

I  met  a  man  in  Boston  recently,  and  I  told  him  we  wanted  some 
money  for  this  work.  I  told  him  that  I  knew  he  had  plenty  of  money 
to  spare.  I  told  him  that  I  estimated  the  cost  of  this  trip  from 
America  at  £6000,  or  30,000  dollars,  and  I  said  I  want  you  to  give 
5000  doUars  towards  the  amount,  and  he  said,  "I  thmk  you  may 
expect  it."  I  tell  you,  brethren,  if  it  is  the  purpose  and  will  of  God,  it 
will  be  easy  to  do  it.  Let  us  be  thoroughly  persuaded  that  there  are 
no  difficulties  that  God  is  not  able  to  overcome.  He  has  done  too  many 
tilings  for  us  for  us  to  doubt  his  ability  now.  It  is  estimated  tliat  there 
are  20,000,000  in  Sunday  schools  in  all  the  world  who  have  lifted  up 
their  voices  in  the  name  of  Clu-ist. 

The  Sunday  School  Union  in  England  and  America  has  organized 
and  sent  forth  its  colporteurs,  and  the  children  of  those  countries  are 
singing  hymns  of  praise.  I  am  glad  that  om-  present  George  Williams 
is  alive,  God  bless  him!  It  was  one  of  my  desires  to  see  him.  I  am 
only  sorry  that  Shaftesbury  is  dead,  and  that  I  cannot  see  him.  The 
Evangehcal  Alhance  seeks  the  union  of  all  Christians  in  the  work  of 
Christ.  What  wonders  have  transpired  since  the  first  Sunday  school 
Convention  was  held  in  this  country  or  in  our  own !  The  organization 
of  the  work  in  America  has  led  to  the  introduction  of  the  International 
Lesson. 

Let  us  remember  what  God  has  done  for  us.  Let  me  make  this 
suggestion  :  I  believe  the  introduction  of  the  International  Lesson  has 
been  a  means  of  consolidating  and  developing  the  work  of  the  Sxmday 
school  in  both  England  and  America. 


In  the   Unlicd  Stales.  87 

The  aulliorilii's  ul,  Cluuitaiiqua  arc  liolding  meetings  in  varloiu*  parts 
of  the  United  States,  and  their  work  has  crossed  tlio  sea  into  Great 
Eritaiu  and  into  foreign  huids.  Tiie  organization  for  tlic  Women's 
Missionary  Society  has  given  new  Hfe  to  tlie  woriv  tliat  lias  been  carried 
on.  And  we  have  also  the  Women's  Christian  Union  working  in 
imison  with  this  other  society.  The  Salvat  ion  Army,  too,  is  carrying  tlie 
ilag.  I  have  told  you  previously  the  brethren  of  the  Salvation  Army 
who  were  on  the  Bothnia  couuuanded  the  respect,  and  left  a  blessed 
memory  in  the  hearts,  of  all  those  Christians  on  the  ship.  They  are 
cai-rying  the  flag  of  Jesus  at  the  head  of  the  column. 

Then  we  have  the  Young  People's  Society  and  the  Christian 
Endeavour  Organisation,  which  was  started  in  1881,  and  already  they 
number  400,000  members,  and  soon  there  will  be  4000  delegates  oi 
young  men  and  women  in  the  society.  All  these  things  are  in  the 
hands  of  the  Chm-ch  of  Christ.  All  the  barriers  to  obstruct  ion  are 
removed,  all  the  avenues  ai*e  open,  all  the  streams  of  knowledge  are 
tributaries  to  the  river  of  salvation,  and  all  the  wealth  and  learning  of 
the  world  are  laid  at  our  feet  to  be  used  in  tliis  work. 

The  President  :  I  have  now  to  redeem  my  promise,  and  ask  Mr. 
Jacobs  to  go  into  the  busmess  matter  which  was  before  the  meeting 
yesterday.  I  think  I  may  appeal  to  my  friend  from  Scotland  and  ask 
whether  we  shoidd  interrupt  the  flow  of  this  splendid  meeting  to-night. 
My  word  is  pledged,  and  I  will  keep  the  pledge  if  necessary ;  but  if  he 
will  allow  it  to  be  kept  till  to-morrow  we  shall  be  able  to  bring  the 
meeting  to  a  close  in  the  heartiest  possible  manner. 

The  Scotch  Delegate  :  I  would  be  the  last  one  to  disturb  the 
flow  of  this  meeting.  I  am  in  the  fullest  sympathy  with  all  that  has 
taken  place,  and  my  moving  in  this  matter  is  not  out  of  any  spirit  of 
op])Osition,  but  simply  from  a  hearty  desire  for  the  good  of  this  cause. 
"Wo  regard  this  matter  as  one  of  great  importance,  and  I  will  therefore 
agree  that  it  shall  be  taken  the  first  thing  to-morrow  morning. 

Mr.  E.  Patson  Pouter  :  I  have  made  a  slight  mistake  in  the  course 
of  my  address  to  you.  You  who  have  made  memorandums  please  jnit 
do\ra  New  York  city  percentage  12J,  and  Brooklyn  13J. 

Mr.  P.  E.  Jacobs  :  I  will  now  take  the  privilege  of  introducing  our 
friend  Mr.  George  Moore.  Our  work  is  of  such  a  nature  that  it  has 
been  very  difficult  for  us  to  carry  it  out  in  some  parts  as  we  would 
wisli  to  do,  and  we  thought  it  was  a  wise  thing — and  wc  were  glad  of 
the  opportunity  of  having  one  of  om*  coloured  brethren  here  to  speak 
on  behalf  of  his  own  people,  not  because  it  is  a  separate  work,  but 
because  we  feel  that  you  would  all  be  glad  to  hear  him ;  and  I  have  the 
greatest  pleasure  in  introducing  him. 


Organized  Sunday  School   WorJc : 


OEGANIZED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  AMONG  THE 
COLOURED  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF 
AMERICA. 

%  Key.  Gko.  ^V.  Moobe  {Wasliwr/ion,  B.C.,  U.S.A.). 

The  liistory  of  the  organized  8nnclay  scliool  -work  among  the  more 
than  eight  millions  of  colom-ed  people  in  the  United  States  has  been  the 
iiiost  \inique  in  the  annals  of  Sunday  school  work  of  the  past  qiina'tcv  of 
a  century.  In  considering  this  phase  of  the  Sunday  School  work  in  the 
United  States,  especially  in  the  Southern  States,  we  must  bear  in  mind 
the  two  hmidi'ed  and  fifty  years  of  the  tuition  of  slavery,  and  the  toil.--, 
stri^ggles,  and  victories  of  the  past  twenty-four  years  of  freedom, 
together  with  the  forces  that  hare  contributed  to  each,  before  you  can 
know  and  feel  the  struggle  of  my  people  in  their  efforts  to  rise.  But 
we  do  not  wish  to  dwell  upon  the  past,  although  it  has  left  its  impress 
upon  the  habits,  customs,  and  life  of  a  whole  race  of  people.  Our  backs 
are  now  to  the  past,  our  faces  are  turned  to  the  future,  and  our  trust  is 
in  God. 

The  organized  Sunday  school  work  among  the  coloured  people  of  tiu^ 
United  States  began  with  the  dawn  of  freedom  of  the  Negro  race  twenty- 
four  yeai's  ago. 

These  have  bee-u  the  most  interesting  years  in  American  history. 
Tliey  have  been  the  most  progressive  in  the  history  of  the  coloured 
people.  These  have  been  the  formative  years  of  oiu*  history — the  years 
of  construction — when  the  foundation  of  the  home,  the  school,  and  tin- 
chm-cli  was  laid.  These  have  been  the  years  of  our  growth  in  popular 
tion,  in  material  development,  in  educational  advancement  and  religious 
progress.  During  these  years  of  freedom  the  race  has  more  than 
doubled.  Six  hundred  Negro  children  are  born  a  day,  more  than  two 
hunch-ed  thousand  a  year  !  What  shall  be  done  with  and  for  them  ?  In 
the  material  work,  in  the  great  industries  that  make  a  people  great  and 
prosperous,  they  must  find  a  place.  In  the  political  field  they  are  to  help 
to  shape  the  destiny  of  the  nation.  Schools  are  opening  on  every  hand 
to  receive  them.  The  hquor  saloon,  with  none  of  the  barriei's  that  shut 
the  Negro  out  of  other  walks  of  life,  are  opening  everywhere  to  receive 
them. 

There  are  other  influences  and  vices  to  draw  them  down  and  impede 
their  progress  ;  and  aa  we  come  before  the  great  World's  Sunday  School 
Convention  held  in  Old  England,  the  true  and  tried  friend  of  the  Negro, 
to  make  our  report  on  the  organized  work  among  the  eolotu'ed  people  of 
the  United  States,  we  ask,  my  friends.  Is  there  not  a  large  place  in  yoxir 
thoughts  and  plans  for  these  millions  of  coloured  children  that  are  ever 
increasmg  on  our  American  shores  ?  The  increase  of  population  is  to 
have  a  vast  influence  on  the  future  of  oiu*  Sunday  school  work.  This 
increase  of  population  means  larger  fields  for  oiu*  Sunday  scliool  work, 


Avio'iKj  Coloured  I'eo^ilc.  89 

widei*  oppoi-tunitic'.<,  Inrgcr  responsibilities.  About  oiic-ihird  ol"  (lie 
coloured  people  i»  the  United  States  luive,  during  the  past  twenty 
years  of  Irecdoni,  arisen  in  the  rank  of  life  equal  to  other  American 
citizens.  Tiiis  is  a  grand  advance  lor  one-tiiird  of  any  people  to  rise  in 
thi-s  course  of  time.  They  arc  not  only  increasing  in  population,  b\it 
also  in  thc-ir  material  prosperity.  Tlie  material  development  of  the 
Southern  States  since  emancipation  has  been  so  marked  that  it  ha.-< 
be.Mi  called  the  New  South.  The  coloured  people  are  intensely  in- 
terested in  that  South  land — that  is,  our  liome.  We  have  liclped  to 
make  it  what  it  is,  and  we  shall  help  to  make  it  under  God  what  it 
shall  be.  The  black  hands  have  helped  to  develop  tlic  mineral  resoiu'ces, 
liave  picked  the  cotton  and  manufactured  it  for  tlie  market,  and  have 
helped  to  build  up  that  South  land — and  it  shall  be  these  hands  that 
shall  help  to  stay  up  our  fair  land  in  every  good  word  and  work. 

The  material  prosperity  of  the  Kegro  has  a  potent  uifluence  on  the 
organization  and  prosperity  of  our  Sunday  schools  in  the  development 
of  tlie  present  work,  and  in  the  work  of  Sunday  school  extension. 

The  coloured  people  have  made  great  advancement  in  the  work  of 
education.  I  remember  very  well  the  beginning  of  that  great  educa- 
1  ional  epoch  in  the  South  immediately  after  the  war.  I  had  just  come 
out  of  the  house  of  bondage  with  my  brethren  when  the  schools  were 
open  2^nblicly  to  us  for  the  fii-st  time.  One  of  the  first  schools  for 
coloured  youth  that  was  opeuly  taught  in  the  South  was  organized  by 
Mary  Peake,  a  coloiu-ed  woman,  in  1861,  at  Hampton,  Vh'giuia,  near 
the  spot  where  the  old  Dutch  brig  landed  the  first  cargo  of  Negro  slaves 
in  1620.  There,  under  the  open  skies,  in  the  sand,  without  school- 
liouse  or  books,  this  woman  gathered  the  dusky  chLldi'en,  and  taught 
them  the  key  of  all  knowledge,  the  alphabet,  and  organized  a  Simday 
r<cliool.  Wliat  lias  been  the  result?  Hampton  Iivstitute,  with  its  600 
Negro  and  Indian  students,  its  numerous  industries,  and  tlie  hundreds 
of  Sunday  schools  that  have  been  organized  in  Virginia  and  other 
Southern  States,  and  in  Africa.  I  remember  that  stream  of  Christian 
men  and  womoi  from  the  Northern  States  that  came  down  to  South 
land,  and  brought  to  \is  the  spelling-book  and  the  Bible,  and  built  tlie 
school-houses  for  us.  I  remember,  on  the  other  hand,  that  vast  uprising 
of  the  Southern  people  in  helping  to  foster  the  public  schools.  Smce 
emancipation,  more  than  20,000  of  the  boys  and  girls  that  have  been 
taught  in  sueli  schools  as  Howard  University,  Fisk  University,  Wilbcr- 
Ibree,  Atlanta,  Claflin,  Paine,  Lincoln,  Livingstone,  and  Straight 
Universities,  and  all  the  schools  for  coloured  youth  throughout  the 
Southern  States,  are  now  in  the  gi-eat  field  of  action,  in  our  schools  and 
cluu'ches,  and  compose  the  most  efficient  helpers  in  our  organized 
Sunday  school  work  in  trying  to  lift  up  the  people,  and  to  unite  the 
forces  in  behalf  of  trutli. 

The  educational  work  among  the  coloured  people  has  been  the  great 
right-hand  of  strength  in  the  organization  of  our  Sunday  school 
work.   It  has  given  \is  a  vast  armv  of  consecrated  and  eflicient  workers  ; 


90  Organized  Sundaij  School   Work  : 

without  the  school-^'  as   feeders,  wc   coukl  have  no   organized  Sunday 
school  work  among  our  people. 

But  the  gi-eatest  progi-ess  that  has  been  made  among  coloured 
people  during  these  years  of  formation  has  been  in  their  religious 
growth.  Diu-ing  these  years  Ave  have  seen  the  denominations  grow 
from  two,  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  to  seven ;  now  we  have  the 
Baptist,  Congregational,  Disciples,  Episcopal,  Methodist,  Lutliei-an 
and  Presbyterian  denominations,  and  our  Quaker  friends,  all  working 
as  one  mighty  host  for  the  lapbuilding  and  regeneration  of  tliis  race. 
There  are  four  branches  of  the  jMethodist  ehuvch  organized  among  the 
coloured  people.  The  African  Methodist  Episcopal,  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Zion,  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  tlie  Coloured  Methodist 
Episcopal  of  Americ'.i.  There  are  also  four  brandies  of  the  Presbyterian 
chm-ch.  The  Northern,  Southern  Cumberland,  and  United  Presbyterian. 
All  of  our  denominations  among  the  coloured  people  have  done  a  most 
effective  service  for  om-  organized  Sunday  school  work.  Tlie  whole 
number  of  Sunday  schools  among  the  coloured  people  in  the 

United  States  reported  is 10,-157 

Teachers  and  officers              .....  00,600 

Sunday  school  scholars 971,928 

Total  membersliip        1,055,081 

The  organized  Sunday  scliool  work  among  the  coloui-ed  people  is 
not  sufficiently  perfected  to  secure  accurate  statistics.  It  is  probable 
that  the  numbers  are  at  least  (me-third  larger  than  ]\ere  reported  and 
tills  woiUd  give  a  total  of 

Sundav  schools 22,000 


Teadiers  and  officers S9,0(.K) 

7\iid  Sunday  school  scholars  (nearly)     .         ,         .     1  ,.SOO,000 

With  a  total  membcrshiji  of    1,389,000 

Allofouv  denominations  organized  among  the  coloured  people  are 
engaged  in  educational  work  in  the  Southern  States.  Erom  their 
institutions  of  learning  a  noble  band  of  young  coloui'ed  men  and 
women  have  gone  forth  into  the  Sunday  school  work. 

In  eight  representative  Southern  States,  800,000  negro  pupils  are 
being  trained  hi  the  public  schools  by  16,000  coloured  teachers.  These 
teachers,  are  the  trained  workers  of  om'  organized  Sunday  school  work 
among  our  people  in  America. 

The  urgent  need  of  Christian  training  will  be  seen  when  we  are  told 
that  "  three-foiu-ths  of  the  nation's  illiteracy  is  in  the  Southern  States," 
and  that  "  forty  per  cent,  of  the  whole  popiilation  of  the  South  cannot 
read  the  New  Testament,  and,  of  the  2,000,000  illiterate  voters  in  our 
countiy,  1,500,000  are  in  the  South." 


Antonij  Coloured  People.  91 

The  following  incidcnl  will  iiliislralc  I  Ik;  work  our  students  do  in 
the  Sunday  schools  : — 

"  llt'poi-ts  Avere  gatheird  from  twenty  of  the  students  of  Straight 
University,  New  Orleans,  La.,  who  taught  school  din-ing  the  sunnncr 
vacation.  These  students  were  not  so  busy  with  their  work  in  the 
day  school  as  to  ueglcct  thoii*  work  as  Christiaus  in  the  organization  of 
Sunday  schools.  They  were  scattered  throughout  Louisiana  and 
Mississii>pi  and  readied  many  needy  fields.  They  report  the  following 
facts : — 

Number  of  pupils  in  the  day  schools  which  were  taught  by  them  ]  ,398 

Number  of  Sunday  schools  organized         .....  13 

These  students  were  superintendents  and  teachers  in  schools     ,  22 

Number  of  scholars  in  these  Sunday  schools      ....  1,574 

Number  of  hopefid.  conversions  to  Clu-ist  .....  168 

Five  Bands  of  Mercy  were  organized  with  a  membersliip  of      .  181 

Four  Temperance  Societies  were  foi-med  with  a  membership  of .  2-il 

"  These  facts  furuish  us  excellent  evidence  of  the  judicious  and  enthu- 
siastic efforts  of  these  coloured  students  to  save  and  elevate  their  own 
people.  15,074  children  gathered  into  Sunday  schools,  most  of  whom 
were  absolutely  uui-eached  before  by  these  twenty-two  undergraduates 
of  a  single  American  Missionary  Association  school." 

If  we  could  have  i-eports  of  similar  work  done  by  all  students  of  the 
schools  of  all  of  om-  denominations,  they  would  make  a  magnificent  record. 
Many  of  our  Sunday  schools  sustain  mission  schools.  The  coloured 
Sunday  School  Union  of  the  district  of  Columbia  has  sustained  several 
mission  Sunday  schools  during  the  past  year.  The  Sunday  school  has 
been  the  forerunner,  in  many  instances,  of  the  church.  Many  of  the 
most  flourishing  chm-ches  among  the  coloured  people  have  been  tlie 
outgrowth  of  the  Sunday  school  work.  There  is  a  large  field  for  Inter- 
denominational Union  work  among  the  coloured  people,  such  as  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  especially  the  American  Sunday  School 
Union.  The  International  Executive  Committee  have  done  us  a  great 
sei'vLce  in  om*  Sunday  school  work,  thi-ough  the  International  Sunday 
School  Lessons.  They  have  been  a  mighty  power  and  a  great  force  of 
good  to  all  of  om-  schools.  This  will  be  seen  when  we  contrast  om* 
early  Sunday  school  method  of  teaching  with  that  of  to-day. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  the  chief  text-book  in  om*  Sunday  schools  was 
Webster's  Blue-black  Spelhug-book,  with  here  and  there  a  few  who 
could  read  from  the  Bible.  To-day  the  text-book  in  all  of  om-  Sunday 
schools  is  the  Bible,  and  the  International  Lessons  ai-e  used  almost,  if 
not  entii-ely,  in  all  of  our  schools.  Notwithstanding  all  that  has  been 
done  for  us,  notwithstanduig  all  that  we  have  done  for  ourselves,  the 
■work  has  just  begun.  We  have  crossed  the  Jordan,  have  taken  Jericho, 
and  are  in  the  Land  of  Promise  ;  but  the  land  of  possession  must  be 
obtained  by  conquc-it.     But  I  must  not  detain  you.     I  wisli  in  a  few 


92  Organized  Sunday  School   WorJc : 

mouieuts  to  tell  yoii  of  some  of  our  needs  in  the  development  of  our 
Sunday  school  work. 

Our  needs  are  not  only  those  common  to  our  great  American  and 
English  work,  but  are  in  a  vast  measure  greater,  because  of  the^«*^  and 
2)resent  dilUcidties.  The  work  of  extension  of  our  Sunday  schools  is 
especially  ui'gent,  as  no  religious  instruction  is  re(]uired  in  our  public 
schools,  and  but  little  is  given.  The  work  is  left  to  the  churches, 
iSabbath  schools,  and  other  religious  enterprises.  The  field  for  mis- 
sionary work  in  the  Sunday  school  department  among  the  coloured 
peojile  is  the  largest,  the  most  lU'gent,  and  the  most  neglected  of  all  the 
Sunday  school  work  in  the  United  States.  Our  Sunday  school  work 
needs  to  be  better  organized.  Gloriou.s  as  are  the  record  and  results 
of  the  organized  work  among  the  coloured  people  in  the  United  States, 
the  unorganized  work  among  the  masses  in  our  rural  districts,  and  even 
in  our  cities,  is  alarmmg.  There  are  more  than  4,000,000  of  our  peojile 
and  youth  who  ought  to  receive  Bible  instruction  who  ai-e  not  reached 
by  the  Sunday  school.  Washuigton  City  alone  has  a  population  of 
80,000  coloured  people.  Not  a  fom-th  of  our  coloiu-ed  youth  are  in 
Sunday  school.  So  far  as  I  can  ascertain  there  is  not  a  single  reading- 
room  or  library  outside  of  the  schools — no  T.  M.  C  A. — no  imde- 
nominational  missions  where  dady  services  are  held  to  reach  this  large 
and  most  needy  class  in  Washington  ;  and  what  is  true  of  that  city  is 
largely  true  of  the  whole  southern  country  where  our  people  mostly 
live. 

The  Sunday  school  work  among  the  coloured  people  can  be  made  a 
great  power  for  good  by  better  organization.  We  are  doing  the  best 
y\e  can,  and  a  great  work  has  been  done ;  but  we  have  no  normal  Sunday 
school  training  classes  for  om*  teachers,  but  few  Sunday  school  insti- 
tutes, no  iinion  conventions  of  Sunday  school  workers,  and  but  few 
Sunday  school  imions.  Our  Sunday  schools  and  workers  need  the  con- 
tact and  inspu'ation  of  such  a  Convention  as  this,  and,  since  the  people 
cannot  come  up  to  the  Convention,  we  are  glad  that  we  have  representa- 
tives to  carry  the  Convention  back  to  the  people,  and  help  to  infuse  its 
life  and  power  all  along  the  line.  The  unorganized  work  among  our 
people  shows  the  need  of  evangelization.  Look  at  our  great  country, 
and  tell  me,  friends,  where  you  will  find  a  field  so  needy,  that  has  been 
90  long  neglected — where  the  children  are  waitmg,  pleadingly  waiting, 
for  the  uplifting  and  the  evangehzing  power  of  the  Sunday  school. 
The  organized  Sunday  school  work  among  the  coloured  people  wiU  be 
felt  in  the  great  field  of  Africa.  Already  some  of  our  best  workers  have 
gone  to  that  land.  A  mighty  army  of  consecrated,  trained  workers  are 
yet  to  work  for  Africa's  redemption.  It  will  be  a  great  advantage  to 
the  Smiday  school  cause  in  general,  and  to  the  colom-ed  wing  of  our 
Christian  army,  to  enter  this  field,  and  to  enlist  these  people  in  your 
sympathies,  and  in  an  enlarged  place  in  this  great  work.  It  is  our 
earnest  desire  that  such  measvu-es  be  taken  as  will  arouse  oxu'  people 
in  the  south  to  the  need  of  this  work  of  evangelizing  the  masses,  and 


Among  Coloured  People,  93 

that  will  identify  tliciu  more  fully  with  tliis  great  movemout.  Thus 
wc  vill  hasten  the  good  time  that  our  enslaved  parents  used  to  look 
forward  to — when  responsively  they  sang  : 

•*  Do  you  thiuk  I  will  make  a  soldier,  soldier,  for  the  year  of  Jubilee?"' 
"Yes,  I  think  you  will  make  a  soldier,  soldier,  for  the  year  of  Jubilee." 
"But  you  must  rise  and  shine,  uud  give  God  tl>e  glory  for  the  year  of 
Jubilee." 

When  the  Jubilee  singers  from  my  alma  mater,  Fisk  "University,  were 
at  Meuior,  Ohio,  and  sang  before  om-  lamented  President  Garfield  that 
jnspirmg  song  of 

"  March  on  and  you  shall  gain  the  victory, 
Marcii  ou  and  you  shall  gain  the  day," 

he,  turning  to  them,  said, "  My  friends,  it  is  said  that  Ethiopia  is  stretch- 
ing out  her  hands  imto  God,  but  I  believe  that  God  is  stretching  out 
His  hands  to  Ethiopia." 

NoAV,  my  friends,  what  we  want  in  the  enlistment  of  this  cause  for  our 
schools,  in  all  lauds,  and  among  all  nations,  is  that  we  shall  be  loyal  to 
our  gi-eat  Head  and  to  the  work  He  has  left  us  to  do  in  His  name ; 
thus  we  will  xuiite  all  hands  and  all  hearts  in  this  great  brotherhood, 
in  trying  to  lead  all  xip  to  the  great  Fatherhood,  and  to  the  gi-eat 
Saviour. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you,  and  may  He  help  us  ;  and  finally,  when  our 
A^  ork  is  done,  may  we  gather  uroiuid  the  Master  of  Assemblies — where 
He  shall  pronounce  the  benediction  upon  us,  saying,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
luito  Me,"  and  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world." 

The  proceedings  were  brought  to  a  conclusion  by  the  singing  of  the 
(loiology,  and  the  pronouncing  of  the  benediction  by  Dr.  Hall. 


H 


Onjanizcd  Sundaij  School  WorJc. 


ISEOOND  DAY— FOURTH  .SE8ISI0N. 
Wednesday  Morning,  July  3rd. 

The  liymn,  "  Once  agaia  we  turn  aside,"  liaTing  been  suug,  Dr.  Shaw 
offered  prayer.  The  delegates  then  eang,  "  "W  itli  lioly  joy  now  let  us 
greet ;"  after  wMcli  the  Rev.  B.  W.  Chidlaw  read  the  78th  Psalm :  "G-ive 
ear,  0  My  people,  to  My  law."  Another  hymn  was  sung,  "  Saviour 
Eing  in  hallowed  union,"  after  whiclx  Dr.  Oarron,  of  Norwich,  engaged 
in  prayer. 

Mr.  TowDES  :  One  of  the  speakers  appointed  for  this  session  sent 
me  a  telegram  last  evening  as  follows  :  "  Family  afihction.  Sony  can- 
not come.  Letter  foUows.  Hargreaves."  I  have  received  a  letter  this 
morning  which  states  that  Mr.  Hargreaves  is  suffering  from  carbimcle, 
and  must  take  rest.  He  cannot  leave  home  this  week.  The  Kev. 
Grraingor  Hargreaves  has  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  connection  with 
Sunday  school  work  in  China,  and  he  has  also  spent  a  considerable  time 
in  California  amongst  the  Cliinese.  We  have  a  lady  present  connected 
with  Sunday  school  work  in  China  who  will  occupy  a  few  minutes  iu 
the  course  of  the  morning  session. 

The  President  :  I  wish  to  give  notice  of  motion,  I  think  I  may  say 
on  behalf  of  the  whole  Convention.  After  that  speech  last  night  we 
want  to  do  sometlung,  and  I  have  jiist  di-afted  this  motion :  "  That 
it  be  an  instruction  to  the  executive  committee  to  consider  what 
imited  action  is  at  present  possible  for  the  eitension  of  Smiday  school 
teaching  in  India,  China,  and  Africa,  iu  all  or  either  of  them,  and  to 
report  thereon  on  Friday  afternoon  next  to  this  Convention."     (Agreed.) 

Mr.  Beyce  (llount  Vernon)  asked  that  the  minutes  of  the  preiuous 
day  should  be  read. 

A  sHght  discussion  ensued,  and  it  was  ultimately  agreed  that,  as  fidl 
notes  were  being  taken  of  all  proceedings,  the  course  suggested  woiild 
be  vmnecessary. 

A  Delegate  here  interposed,  desiring  that  the  minutes  of  the  pre- 
vious day  might  be  read ;  but,  after  some  remarks  fi'om  the  President, 
it  was  not  deemed  necessaiy, 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  tlien  presented  the  following  report  from  the 
executive  committee :  The  executive  committee  think  the  Conven- 
tion mtist  listen  to  the  papers  and  addresses  as  named  iu  the  pro- 
gramme,  but  they  hope   some  time  wiU  be  gamed  for  discussion 


Ill   India.  95 

(Ilcar.  hear.)  We  tlimk  tliafc  one  hour  of  this  mornmg's  sc:;siou  will 
be  gaiucd.  We  do  not  (hmk  any  of  the  afternoons  can  be  gained,  but 
that  remains  to  be  seen.  It  is  very  diflicidt  to  exactly  deterniuie  the 
limits  to  which  any  man  will  go  when  ho  is  once  allowed  to  be  on  the 
platform.     (Laughter.) 

A  Deleoatk  was  in  fa\  our  of  a  suitable  time  bcuig  allowed  for  the 
discussion  of  the  various  subjects  treated  in  the  ))apcrs,  more  extcudctl 
than  the  report  of  executive  dealt  with.  After  muoh  consideration,  the 
matter  was  referred  to  the  executive  coniniitteo  to  consider  as  to  tho 
limitation  of  papers. 

ORGANIZED  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  IN  INDIA. 
Bij  Eev.  J.  J.  Pool. 

Sdxbay  school  work  in  India  is  practically  a  work  of  j'csterday.  It  is 
oidy  within  the  last  flfteeu  years  that  anything  like  a  wide-spread  and 
general  appreciation  of  such  work  has  been  manifested.  The  yomig 
have  of  course  been  thought  of  from  the  very  commencement  of 
missionary  enterprise  in  the  country  ;  but  the  approved  way  of  reacli- 
iiig  them  was  not  tlu'ough  Sunday  schools,  but  through  Day  schools. 
Along  with  the  secidar  instruction,  it  was  sought  to  impart  a  modicum 
of  religious  training,  and  it  was  anxiously  expected  and  fondly  hoped 
that  tho  young  people  of  India  woidd  thus  be  led  to  put  their  trust  iu 
the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Clu'ist,  and  iu  Chi-ist  Himself. 
Nor  have  such  anticipations  and  hojies  been  altogether  visionary.  Tho 
Day  schools  of  India,  in  the  hands  of  our  Christian  missionaries,  have 
done,  and  are  doing,  a  noble  work  which  tends  to  righteousness. 

But  of  late  years  it  has  been  felt  that  sometliing  more  definite  should 
be  done  to  reach  the  hearts  and  influence  the  lives  of  the  youth  of 
India,  and  so  Smiday  schools  have  been  started  in  almost  every  corner 
of  the  land  with  most  wonderful  success.  Indeed,  sober-minded  men, 
who  study  "  the  signs  of  the  times,"  think,  and  boldly  say,  that  this 
latest  form  of  mission  work  is  the  "  key  position  "  for  India,  und  that  at 
the  close  of  a  century  of  labour,  there  will  bo  a  marvellous  story  to  toil 
of  blessed  spu-itual  rosidts. 

Missioiiarics  begm  at  the  right  end  of  national  Hfe  when 

THEY  BEGIN  WITH  THE  CHIXDREK  OF  INDIA. 

Little  impression  comparatively  speaking  is  being  made  upon  adidts, 
but  on  every  hand  it  is  acknowledged  that  the  youth  of  the  comitry  is 
being  greatly  impressed  and  deeply  moved  by  the  story  of  Divine  love 
as  set  forth  in  the  life  of  Jesus  Clu-ist.  An  aged  Hindu  said  ou  one 
occasion  to  a  missionary,  "  Sir,  lue  shall  not  accept  Christ,  we  ai"e  too 
old  to  change ;  for  us  the  die  is  cast,  but  our  childi-eu  will  certainly 
become  Christians."  That  man  was  a  sage,  a  prophet,  a  seer,  and  he 
read  the  futiu-e  aright.  It  is  work  amongst  the  young  in  India  that 
will  tell  most ;  aud  it  is  Sunday  school  work  that  brings  most  fully  and 


06  Onjaiiized  Snndaij  School   WorJi. : 

poiiitodly  before  tlie  young  the  pi-Goloiis  .-saving  tiuillis  of  the  Gospel  af 
Christ. 
India,  with  its  fifty  millions  of  children  presents 

AX    I3XMENSK    TIELD    OF    LABOUII. 

Truly,  a  great  door  and  effectual  is  open,  and  though  there  are  many 
adversaries.  Christian  labom-ers,  witli  boldness  and  joyfulness,  should 
go  in  and  possess  the  land. 

In  the  large  cities,  and  in  some  of  the  smaller  towns  of  India,  there 
are  Simday  schools  composed  of  European  and  Eurasian  children,  and 
t  he  work  amongst  these  is  much  the  same  as  in  England  and  America. 
I  merely  refer  here  to  the  existence  of  sucli  schools,  important  though 
they  are  ;  as  I  take  it,  Sunday  school  work  amongst  the  nati\'e  races  is 
what  we  are  met  together  to  consider. 

The  work  amongst  the  native  races  may  be  divided  into  two  sections. 
There  is  the  effort  made  to  reach  the  children  of  native  Christians,  and 
the  effort  made  to  reach  the  cliildren  of  non-Clu'istians. 

In  most  cases  the  native  Clu-istian  chixrch  is  organized  into  a  Sunday 
school  without  much  trouble,  and  very  often  the  whole  congregation 
becomes  a  Sunday  school,  old  and  young  being  alike  instructed  in  class 
iu  the  sacred  Sci'iptures.  Indeed,  many  of  the  adults  seem  to  bo  as 
backward  as  the  chilch-en — being  but  children  of  a  larger  growth. 

TilE  EEAIi  DIFFICULTY  IN  OEGANIZING-  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS 
occurs  when  the  missionary  or  other  worker  deals  with  non-Christians, 
and  yet  the  difficulty  is  not  as  great  as  might  be  supposed.  It  was  a 
bold  idea  to  start  such  schools  at  all,  but  in  some  thmgs  boldness  is 
half  the  battle.  When  the  work  amongst  non-Chi-istians  was  first 
suggested  and  started  many  good  people  thought  it  would  not  prosper, 
for  they  said,  "  How  can  you  expect  the  people  of  India,  who  do  not 
bcUeve  in  Christianity,  to  send  their  children  to  Sunday  schools  where 
Christian  hymns  will  be  sung,  the  Christian  Scriptures  taught,  and  a 
deliberate  attempt  made  to  win  the  little  ones  to  Christ  ?" 

There  is,  however,  nothing  like  venturing  on  the  improbable,  nothing 
like  attempting  what  seems  impossible,  for  though  many  parents  hold 
tlieir  children  aloof  from  the  schools,  and  some  actively  oppose  them, 
yet  the  general  feeling  is  in  favour  of  them  ;  and  after  fifteen  years  of 
labour,  it  can,  I  think,  be  said,  that  of  the  children  attending  the  Sunday 
schools  of  India,  the  larger  number  come  from  uon-Christian  houies. 
And  thus,  apart  from  the  influence  brought  to  bear  on  the  childi-cn 
themselves,  we  Jiave  here  an  agency  which  reaches  the  homes  of  the 
people  of  the  coimtry,  and  is  nxaterially  h.elping  on  tlie  evangelization 
of  India. 

METHODS   OF    WORE:   IN    INDIA, 

as  might  be  expected,  differ  somewhat  from  European  methods.  More 
attention  is  given  to  rewards,  both  to  di'aw  children  to  school,  and  to 
keep  them  when  there.     Prizes  of  money,  books,  pictures,  toys,  knives  j 


Ill  India.  97 

sweetmeats,  (X:c.,  arc  f reel}' yet  judiciously  bestowed,  and  are  found  to 
be  useful  aids.  Some  people  question  the  wisdom  of  such  methods,  but 
most  successfid  schools,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  arc  sustained  thereby. 
The  Eastern  character  is  undoubtedly  very  susceptible  to  the  influence 
of  "  presents,"  and  this  susceptibility  is  being  turned  to  account  for 
the  furtherance  of  the  religious  training  of  the  cliiklrou  of  the  laud. 


SINGING-  A  POWERFUL  HELP. 

Singing  is  found  to  be  in  India,  as  in  Eui-ope  and  America,  a  power- 
ful help  in  Sunday  school  work.  Indian  children  delight  in  singing, 
and  are  fond  of  our  English  tunes,  as  well  as  theu'  own  native  Bhajans. 
Native  musical  instruments,  native  Christian  hymns,  and  native  tunes 
are  now  being  used  as  much  as  possible.  And  the  need  for  more 
liymns  is  bringing  to  tho  fi'ont  native  poets  ;  but  a  good  hymnology  is 
still  a  desideratum.  No  one  yet  has  done  for  India  what  Isaac  Watts 
did  for  England  many  years  ago.  Wo  have  doubtless  improved  upon 
Watts,  but  it  would  be  well  for  Smiday  school  work  in  India  if  a  poet 
as  saintly  and  as  talented  as  ho  had  to  arise  amongst  the  native 
Christians. 

With  regard  to  the  broad  cpostion  of 

StTNDAT   SCHOOL  LITEEATUKE, 

it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  comparatively  few  of  the  Indian  people 
know  English,  and,  though  translations  have  been  made  into  many  of 
the  vernacular  languages  of  English  books  and  tracts,  yet  much  remains 
to  be  done.  A  piu-ely  vernacular  Sunday  school  literature  would  be  a 
great  blessing  to  the  countiy,  for  English  translations  to  a  great  extent 
lack  adaptation  to  India.  The  rapid  spread  of  Smiday  schools  is 
creating  a  great  demand  for  literature  for  the  young,  and  able  Chi'istian 
^nen — Em'opean  and  Native — ^sliould  be  set  apart  for  this  woi'k  ;  for  the 
literature  that  moulds  childhood  and  youth,  moulds  the  nation.  It 
should  be  therefore  of  a  high  character,  both  mentally  and  morally.  I 
believe  that  our  best  and  ablest  men  should  write  for  the  young. 

Let  me  quote  here  some  wise  words  of  the  Hev.  Dr.  Scott,  secretary 
of  the  Sunday  School  Union  of  India.  "  A  Sunday  school  literatiu-e," 
he  says,  "  should  be  full  of  Christ.  Success  is  in  gettmg  the  scholars  to 
Jesus.  He  is  no  less  attractive  now  than  He  was  among  the  hills  of 
Galilee.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  tlie  figure  of  Jesus  stands  traced  through, 
all  the  pages  of  every  book.  Let  it  be  the  living  Jesus,  simple,  pure, 
and  cliild-loving ;  and  now,  as  then,  the  little  ones  will  come  to  His 
arms.  Our  care  should  be  to  portray  a  life,  rather  than  to  inculcate  a 
doctrine,  to  set  forth  Jesus  as  the  embodiment  of  goodness  and  truth, 
rather  than  to  outlme  a  creed.  It  should  be  Jesus,  loving  all,  and 
suflering  and  dying  for  all,  and  yet  alive  for  evei-more,  and  calling  all  to 
Himself.     If  India  be  ever  brought  to  Jesus,  the  image  of  Jesus  must 

a 


98  Organized,  Siindaij  School  Work  : 

rise  liiglier,  and  sliinc  brigliter,  and  attract  Avith  lovelier  charms  than 
the  heroes  of  the  Indian  sacred  books." 

"We  see,  then,  the  great  need  there  is  for  able  autliors  who  are  at  tlio 
same  time  devout  men. 

MORE   ARTISTS    ARE   WANTED 

for  India,  who  will  delight  the  young  people  with  prettj-  pictures  of  tlio 
common  hfe  of  their  own  coiintry,  and  give  them  charming  views  of  tlio 
scenery  of  their  own  land,  and  conceive  for  them  the  characters  of  the 
Bible  in  truly  Oriental  appearance.  As  yet  the  Sunday  school  children 
of  India  have  been  shown  mainly  western  pictures.  There  is  room  for 
talented  artists  who  wdl  devote  their  genius  and  energies  to  the  amuse- 
ment and  instruction  of  the  young,  leading  them  to  reverence  natm-e,  and 
natiu-e's  God.  AnduntU  the  native  Christian  communities  can  provide 
artists  of  theii'  own  of  sufficient  ability  to  supply  the  needs  of  the 
coimtry,  there  is  a  pathway  to  usefulness  and  wealth  open  to  western 
artists  who  have  eyes  to  see,  and  wisdom  to  seize,  the  opportiniity. 
Some  missionaries  are  doing  a  good  work  in  this  direction,  but  the  field 
has  scarcely  been  touched,  for  eager  chHcben  are  waiting  in  hundreds  of 
thousands  the  advent  of  Indian  pictiu-e  books.  Here  is  a  noble  sphere 
for  gifted  men. 

It  is  intei'estuig  to  note  that 

THE   INTERNATIONAL  LESSON   SERIES   IS  NOW  WIDELY  trSED, 

though  opinions  differ  as  to  its  suitability  to  India.  One  worker  says  ; 
"  The  series  is  the  best  there  is,  but  a  shorter  series  woidd  be  better  for 
us ;"  another  says  :  "  The  lessons  are  too  much  spread  out ;  "  another 
that  "  they  are  good  on  the  whole."  Others  are  more  emphatic  in 
praise  saying,  "very  tiseful;  "  "a  capital  series;"  "almost  perfect." 
The  general  opmion  seems  to  be  that  the  International  series  of  lessons 
may  be  used  in  India  as  elsewhere  to  great  advantage. 
The  question  is  asked  sometimes,  What  about 

CONVERSIONS   TO  CHRISTIANITY 

as  the  result  of  all  these  efforts  to  teach  the  yoimg?  Innumerable 
instances  could  be  given,  but  I  wUI  mention  one  only,  referred  to  by 
Dr.  Badley,  of  Northern  India,  in  an  addi-ess  at  Calcutta.  In  a  Sunday 
school  at  Lucknow,  he  says,  was  a  boy  of  fourteen,  called  Sita  Ram,  the 
son  of  a  carpenter.  He  attended  Sunday  school  regidarly,  opened  his 
heart  to  the  triiths  taught,  became  deeply  interested  in  the  lessons  and 
hymns,  and  was  a  model  scholar.  Fallhig  sick,  and  being  brought  to 
the  point  of  death,  he  sent  for  the  catcchist,  and  asked  him  to  read  to 
him  of  Jesus,  and  to  sing  the  Sunday  school  hymns  once  more.  The 
catechist  read  and  sang  and  prayed.  The  boy  then  turned  to  his 
sorrowing  i-elatives,  and  remarked, "  Don't  weep  for  me,  I  have  accex^ted 


//(  India.  99 

the  Lord  Jesus,  and  He  is  calling  mo  home,"  and  thus  he  passed  awav. 
His  sister  continued  to  attend  the  girls'  Sunday  school,  and  mani- 
fested interest  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  various  ways,  until  she  also 
passed  suddenly  away,  and  joined  Sita  Earn  in  "  the  Happy  Land  "  of 
which  Ihcy  had  been  told  in  the  Sunday  school.  Eventually  tlie elders 
of  the  family,  impressed  by  the  faith  of  their  children,  gave  up  idolatry, 
and  wci-c  admitted  to  Christian  fellowship  by  the  rite  of  baptism. 

Thus  did  Sunday  school  toacluug  win  all  the  members  of  a  nou- 
Christian  family  to  the  Lord. 

A    MATTKll   OF    GliEAT   IMPORTANCE. 

Before  resuming  my  seat  I  woidd  refer  to  a  matter  which  is  con- 
sidered of  great  importance.  Tliere  is  a  Sunday  School  Union  in  India 
affiliated  recently,  I  believe,  with  the  Union  in  England,  but  there  is  no 
secretary,  paid  or  unpaid,  giving  his  whole  time  to  the  work  ;  and  yet 
such  a  man  is  sorely  needed.  The  securing  of  a  secretary  has  been  a 
dream  of  some  ardent  workers  in  India  for  years,  and  they  look  to  sec 
the  dream  become  a  reality.  The  man  does  not  appear,  liowevci" ;  tlie 
way  does  not  open  out !  Perhaps  somethuig  said  or  done  at  this  great 
Convention  may  bring  about  the  longed-for  event.  It  will  be  a  michtv 
gain  for  Sunday  school  work  in  India  when  a  specially  qualified  a^ent 
or  secretary  is  set  apart  wholly  to  the  work. 

There  are,  as  I  have  said,  fifty  millions  of  children  in  India,  of  whom 
217,000  are  in  missionary  Day  schools,  and  100,000  in  Sunday  schools. 
We  see,  then,  "  the  harvest  truly  is  plenteous,  but  the  labom-ers  arc  few." 
Much  has  been  done  to  roach  the  childi-en  and  young  people  of  India, 
but  much  remains  to  be  done — "  there  remaineth  yet  very  much  land 
to  be  possessed." 

aiOBE    WORKERS   ARE    NEEDED. 

nic  army  of  Sunday  school  workers  to-day  in  India  may  be  compared 
to  the  British  army.  It  goes  to  war  with  few  troops,  and  has  to  make 
up  by  braveiy  and  zeal  what  it  lacks  in  numbers.  It  Avoidd  be  a 
mightier  force,  ho\A'CAer,  if  it  were  larger. 

The  greatest  living  English  statesman  said  a  wldle  ago  with  regard 
to  a  great  struggle  he  is  engaged  in,  "Time  is  on  our  side."  "We may 
say  the  same  thing  with  regard  to  Sunday  school  work  in  India, 
"  Time  is  on  our  side."  Tliere  is  need  of  patience  as  well  as  of  labour 
and  faith.  Changes  come  slowly  in  the  East.  Let  us,  however,  but 
get  the  ear  of  the  childi-en  of  India  for  two  or  three  generations,  and 
■win  them  to  om-  side,  and  then  we  may  see  fulfilled  the  proiihecy  made 
by  a  Brahmin,  that  "  the  mighty  tree  of  Hinduism  will  at  length  be 
felled,  when  Christian  axes  are  supplied  with  handles  cut  fi'om  Hindi. 
boughs." 

The  following  paper  had  been  prepared  for  the  World's  Convention, 

H  2 


100  Organized  Sunday  School   Wor'/u  : 

but  Mr.  Hargreayes  wag,  as  already  intimated  by  Mr.  Tower?,  pro\'eriti;d 
by  indisposition  from  reading  it. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOLS  AMONGST  THE  CHINESE. 
i?y  Ret.  Geaingee.  Haegreaves  (Weslei/an  Missionartf,  China), 

Sabbatli  schools,  as  auxiliaries  to  the  chm-ch,  have  long  since 
passed  beyond  the  stage  of  experiment,  and  have  justified  their  institu- 
tion by  theh-  iinparaUeled  success.  Theu"  iitility  on  the  mission  field  is 
calculated  to  be  as  great  as  it  has  been  in  those  countries  already 
designated  Christian. 

The  task  of  speaking  of  Simday  schools  amongst  the  Chinese  is  one 
of  such  maf^nitude  and  diflicLilty,  that  I  confess  at  the  outset  my  utter 
inability  to  do  anything  like  justice  to  my  subject.  The  magnitude  of 
my  theme  is  at  once  seen  when  we  remember  that  tlie  Chinese  are 
foimd  in  large  numbers  in  the  United  States,  Canada,  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  and  Netherlands  India;  and  that  Sunday  schools  are 
established  as  weU  as  Christian  work  of  various  kinds  prosecuted 
amongst  them  in  all  these  places.  Full  and  complete  statistics  under 
present  conditions  are,  therefore,  impossible. 

In  speakmg  of  Sunday  schools  in  China,  the  comitry  is  so  vast,  tho 
people  so  numerous,  the  customs  so  various,  and  the  methods  of 
operation  so  diversified,  that  the  terms  "  Sunday  school "  and  "  Sunday 
school  work  "  require  some  explanation  in  order  to  convey  a  correct 
impression  to  the  occidental  mind.  One  important  distinction  to  be 
remembered  between  Sunday  schools  in  Clima  and  those  with  which 
most  delegates  present  at  tliis  Convention  are  acquainted  is,  that  they 
are  being  estabhshed  in  a  heathen  land  as  missionary  agencies,  and  are 
jiot  the  outcome  of  Christian  zeal  associated  with  chiu'ches  that  have 
long  been  founded. 

This  distinction  will  prepare  oiu-  minds  for  some  of  the  pecuharities 
of  Sunday  schools  in  China.  Speaking  generally,  our  Sunday  school 
scholars  are  those  who  attend  our  day  schools.  Some  time  is  given 
each  day  to  religious  instruction,  but  the  lessons  on  Sujiday  are  wholly 
religious.  Where  such  is  the  nature  of  the  school,  the  schoolmaster 
or  schoolmistress  is  the  principal  Sunday  school  teacher,  additional 
help  is  rendered  by  the  missiouary,  his  native  assistants,  the  missionary's 
wife,  or  the  Bible  women.  At  the  hoiu'  for  Clu'istian  service,  the 
scholai's  are  marched  into  the  adjoining  chapel  or  chm-ch  as  in  om-  own 
lands.  In  some  missions,  the  Sunday  school  is  modelled  after  om*  home 
patterns,  and  the  services  of  the  members  of  the  chm-ch  are  enlisted  as 
teachers  and  officers.  This  is  the  kind  of  school  that  has  om-  warmest 
sympathy,  because  of  the  inestimable  advantages  that  must  accrue  to  a 
church  that  has  a  goodly  number  of  voluntary  and  impaid  woi'kers. 
But  such  a  Simday  school  of  necessity  presupposes  a  long-estabhshed 
and  weU-organized  chm-ch,  such  as  is  not  found  in  all  places.     The 


//;  Cliiita.  lOl 

scholars  of  om*  sdiools  arc  Hie  sons  iiud  claugliters  of  lieatlieii  parents, 
as  well  as  tlic  cliildren  of  tlie  mcniljers  of  our  cliurcli.  The  custoui  of 
female  seclusion,  wliicli  operates  so  i)0\verfully  in  Oriental  social  life, 
affects  the  ciiaracter  of  our  schools,  so  tliat  we  arc  obliged  to  have 
separate  schools  for  male  and  female  schokirs.  Tlie  rigidity  of  this 
custom  will  become  relaxed,  and  scliool  life  in  Cliinn,  as  well  as  tlie 
social  circle,  will  be  brighter  in  proportion  as  the  spread  of  Christianity 
supplies  other  and  more  powerful  safeguards  to  their  social  morality. 
Tlie  clieerfulness,  brightness,  and  freedom  of  our  western  Sunday 
schools  is  largely  due  to  the  fact,  that  at  the  beginning  and  close  of 
school  the  male  and  female  scholars  can  be  gathered  altogether  in  one 
place  where 

"At  once  they  sing,  nt  once  they  pray, 
They  hear  of  heaven  and  Iparn  the  way." 

The  advantages,  in  China,  that  will  result  from  Christian  schools,  and 
especially  Sunday  schools,  are  simply  incalculable.  These  advantages 
present  themselves  to  us  in  a  imique  light,  arising  out  of  the  conditions 
under  which  our  work  is  prosecuted.  One  of  these  conditions,  viz., 
female  seclusion,  we  have  already  noticed,  and  the  nest  is  closely 
related  to,  and,  in  some  respects,  arises  out  of  it. 

Tlie  Cliinese  are  a  literary  people,  and  theu'  civil  appointments  are 
open  to  those  only  who  have  passed  certain  literary  tests.  But  much 
that  is  admirable  in  theory  loses  its  value  through  lack  of  practical 
expression.  The  Christian  school  (here  employed  as  a  generic  term) 
perfects  that  which  is  imperfect.  Whilst  female  education  is  not 
altogether  unknown,  it  is  much  neglected ;  but  the  instruction  given  in 
our  schools  to  boys  and  girls  who  come  from  heathen  homes,  the 
equality  of  instruction  and  treatment  tliere  received,  will  carry  manv  a 
ray  of  heavenly  light  into  homes  that  are  at  present  dark  and  cheerless. 
The  equality  of  boys  and  girls  in  the  school  will  produce  equality  of 
men  and  women  in  the  home.  In  these  statements  we  are  not 
indulging  in  prophecy,  but  recoi'ding  I'esidts  ah-eady  achieved.  Every 
year  boys  and  girls,  women  and  men,  make  public  confession  of  Christ 
as  the  result  of  our  work  in  our  day  and  Sunday  schools,  and  not  a  few 
of  our  native  pastors,  preachers,  and  catechists  have  fii'st  received  the 
principles  of  etenial  truth  in  those  schools. 

We  are  accustomed  to  hear  in  this  laud  the  expression  that  Sabbath 
schools  are  England's  glory.  That  which  is  true  in  England  to-day 
will  be  true  in  China  to-morrow.  Sabbath  schools  will  be  no 
iinimportant  factor  in  the  salvation  of  China.  The  keystone  of  Chinese 
civilization  is  filial  piety.  In  consequence  of  an  ovei'-weening  anxiety 
to  secure  the  authority  of  the  parent,  as  well  as  an  inordinate  reverence 
for  antiquity  and  that  which  is  past,  this  virtue  has  received  an 
abnormal  development.  This  abnormality,  uncorrected  by  principles 
clearly  enunciated  by  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  has  resulted  in  the  Chinese 
faiUng  to  I'ealize  so  clearly  the  duties  of  parents  to  tlieir  children  as 


102  Organized  Sanday  School   WorJc: 

they  have  those  of  children  to  thcu"  parents.  China  is  cursed  by  a 
blighting  and  paralyzing  reverence  for  antiquity.  The  cold,  icy  grip  of 
a  dead  past  is  upon  her.  Hence  to  the  Chinese  the  highest  expression 
of  fdial  piety  is  found  in  ancestral  worship.  Care  for,  and  Christian 
education  of,  the  young  will  correct  this. 

I  do  not  hesitate  for  a  moment  to  declare  my  belief  that  God  in  His 
wise  and  gracious  Providence  has  caused  the  principle  expressed  in  the 
Fifth  Commandment,  after  all  local  coloiiring  has  been  removed,  to  be 
realized  m  the  history  of  the  Chinese.  On  what  other  principle  can 
we  interpret  that  lengthened  histoiy,  if  not  by  that  expressed  in  the 
words,  "  That  thy  days  may  be  long  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  giveth  thee  ?  " 

But,  whilst  recognizing  the  good,  we  cannot  shut  om*  eyes  to  the  evils 
of  the  Chinese  system  of  filial  piety.  These  evils,  we  are  assured,  will 
be  remedied  by  those  truths  revealed  to  us  in  the  words,  "  Suffer  little 
chilcken  to  come  xinto  Me  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the 
Kingdom  of  heaven,"  and  "  Feed  My  lambs  "  ;  which  words  we  think 
constitute  the  rock-foundation  upon  which  om-  Sabbath  school  system 
rests.  When  these  words  of  om-  Saviom-  are  treasm-ed  and  prized,  in- 
fanticide, the  traffic  in  young  gMs,  whether  for  domestic  slavery  or 
worse  purposes,  must  disappear.  "VVe  can  conceive  of  no  institution 
calculated  to  set  forth  so  clearly,  fully,  and  safely  the  reciprocal  duties 
of  filial  piety  as  the  Sunday  school. 

We  are  in  no  small  danger  of  being  misunderstood  by  the  Chinese 
when  combating  their  worship  of  ancestors.  They  conclude  that  we 
are  attacking  then-  system  of  filial  piety  as  sixch.  The  Sabbath  school 
and  the  truths  there  taught  will  help  to  correct  this  notion,  and  serve 
to  maintain  the  equilibrium  of  ti-uth.  From  these  considerations  we 
see  how  far-reaching  and  profoimd  the  influence  of  Smiday  schools  will 
be  in  China. 

In  setting  forth,  the  good  that  Sabbath  schools  are  calcidated  to 
produce,  I  observed  that  such  statements  were  not  the  predictions  of 
faith  and  hope,  but  the  records  of  experience  and  history.  A  few 
months  previous  to  my  departm-e  fi-om  China,  I  had  the  joy  of 
baptizing  a  young  man  who  for  many  years  had  been  living  in  the 
country,  far  away  from  any  centre  of  missionaiy  tod.  When  questioned 
as  to  his  reason  for  coming  to  our  ehm-ch,  he  replied,  "  Many  years  ago 
I  was  a  scholar  in  yoiu*  school,  and  came  in  along  with  the  others  to  the 
Sunday  services.  Dm-ing  that  time  I  learned  to  read  the  Scriptures, 
committed  the  catechism  to  memory,  understood  a  little  of  the  preach- 
ing, and  the  truths  I  then  learned  I  have  never  forgotten,  and  I  thought 
I  should  like  to  be  baptized  at  the  church  where  I  had  fu-st  received 
religious  instruction  and  impressions." 

Some  years  ago,  the  mission  with  which  I  have  the  honom'  to  be 
associated  commenced  work  in  a  small  village  to  the  north  of  the 
Canton  province.  In  this  village  we  fomid  a  yoimg  man  who  had  been 
a  scholar  in  one  of  our  schools  in  Canton.     The  exigencies  of  a  business 


In  China.  103 

life  had  calli'd  liim  to  ivmovc  Irom  tlio  city,  and  he  had  been  for  many 
years  beyond  the  range  of  our  influence.  He  immediately  renewed  his 
connection  with  us,  and  became  active  and  energetic  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
I  narrate  these  two  instances  as  typical  cases,  and  gather  from  them 
three  lessons.  First,  we  see  that  the  seed  sowu  in  youthful  hearts 
brings  forth  fruit.  Secondly,  that  much  work  may  be  done  the  result 
of  wluch  is  never  seen.  Thirdly,  that  in  a  country  like  China  it  may 
in  some  cases  take  many  years  to  overtake  the  labours  of  the  past  and 
garner  the  fruit. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  '  The  Cross  and  the  Dragon,'  an 
admirable  book  written  by  the  Eev.  B.  C.  Heniy,  of  the  American  Pres- 
byterian Mission,  Canton.  "  A  boat  boy  from  our  school  who  acted  as 
peacemaker  in  a  quarrel,  and  sought  to  dissuade  the  sti-onger  from 
abusing  the  smaller  boy,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  bystanders,  who 
remarked.  Oh,  he  learned  that  in  a  Christian  school."  Thus  we  see 
liow  the  truths  incvdcated  in  oiu"  jSunday  schools  affect  the  relations  of 
boys  on  the  street. 

It  will  not  be  considered  improper  at  this  point  to  allude  to  the 
Female  Seminary  connected  with  the  American  Presbyterian  Mission 
in  Canton.  Tiiough  partaking  of  the  nature  of  an  ordinary  educational 
institution  iu  consequence  of  its  connection  with  the  mission,  and  mider 
the  able  guidance  of  Miss  H.  Noycs,  it  is  made  a  Christian  school  of 
immense  mflueuce.  Each  Sunday  the  pupils  numbering  upwards  of 
one  himdred  are  gathered  together  for  special  reUgious  instruction. 
Since  its  foundation,  some  eighteen  years  ago,  the  school  has  been 
repeatedly  enlarged ;  and  during  that  period  considerably  over  one 
hundred  pupils  have  joined  the  chm-ch,  and  many  of  them  are  now 
fomid  in  important  positions  as  Eible-women  or  teachers.  Others  as 
wives  of  native  preachers  or  prominent  men  in  the  church  have  become 
mothers  of  Cliristiau  families,  and  are  trainuig  their  chilch-en  iu  the 
nurtm-e  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

It  was  my  privilege  and  pleasiu-e  last  year  to  sec  sometliiug  of  the 
•work  that  is  bcmg  carried  on  amongst  the  Chinese  in  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  and  the  United  States  ;  but  a  hasty  visit  prohibits  more  than 
a  passing  reference.  In  Melbourne,  Ballarat,  Creswick,  Castlemaine, 
Sandhurst,  Dunolly,  and  other  places,  evening  classes  are  held,  and 
Sunday  schools  established  for  the  Chinese  by  the  Chm-ch  of  England, 
the  Presbyterian  and  Wesleyan  Chm-ches.  Under  the  superintendence 
of  Mr.  Cheung  Chok,  Mr.  -James  Chew,  and  Mr.  Moy  Ling,  these 
chm'chcs  are  carrying  on  Clu'istian  work  iu  many  forms. 

In  New  South  Wales,  the  Rev.  Edward  Youngman,  and  in  New 
Zealand  the  Rev.  A.  Don,  both  of  whom  have  spent  some  time  in 
China  in  securing  a  knowledge  of  the  language  and  customs  of  the 
Chinese,  are  working  siiccessfidly  the  various  organizations  connected 
with  energetic  and  devoted  churches,  and  are  gathering  together 
numbers  of  Chinese  in  Smiday  school  classes  to  receive  instruction  in 
the  Word  of  Life. 


10-i  Organized  Sunday  School  World 

In  Dunerliii,  Mr.  Paterson  lias  devoted,  and  is  devoting,  both  time 
and  means  to  benefit  the  despised  Mongolian  in  a  similar  way. 

Chinese  Sunday  schools  are  also  vigorously  conducted  by  Mr.  F. 
W.  Damon  at  Honokdu. 

The  work  that  is  being  eouducted  by  the  various  ehiu'ches  in 
America  in  organizing  Sunday  schools  for  the  Chinese  is  of  such 
magnitude  as  to  forbid  our  attempting  to  deal  with  it.  It  is  increasing 
in  importance  every  yeai*.  A  reference  to  any  number  of  The 
Chinese  Evangelist  will  abundantly  prove  our  assertion.  This 
valuable  periodical  calls  for  more  than  a  passing  notice.  It  is  an 
interesting  montlily  published  in  New  York,  and  edited  by  Mr.  J.  S. 
Happer,  who  in  addition  to  his  professional  studies  and  duties  gives 
much  time  to  work  amongst  the  Chinese.  He  is  a  son  of  the  Bcv.  Dr. 
Happer,  a  veteran  missionary  to  the  Chinese,  who  has  already  devoted 
over  40  years  to  the  Master's  work,  and  is  still  engaged  in  seeking  to 
bring  the  Chinese  to  a  knowledge  of  Christian  truth.  One-half  of  the 
^Evangelist  is  printed  iu  Chiuese  and  the  other  half  in  Enghsh,  and 
I  should  be  glad  to  see  the  little  pubhcation  read  by  Chinese  and  all 
■who  use  the  Enghsh  language  the  world  over.  Under  tlie  paragraph 
headed  "  Among  the  schools  "  much  valuable  information  is  given 
respecting  the  many  Chinese  Sunday  schools  conducted  in  the  States 
and  other  places. 

Notwithstanding  the  magnitude  of  the  work  in  the  States,  I  may  be 
allowed  one  or  two  personal  reminiscences.  It  was  my  privilege  to  see 
much  of  the  work  carried  on  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  iu 
San  Francisco.  The  Sunday  schools  in  Wasliington  Street,  under  the 
able  and  energetic  superintendency  of  the  Kev.  l'\  W.  Masters,  are 
provmg  most  effectual.  One  Sunday  morning,  after  school,  I  preached 
to  over  one  himdi-ed  Chinese,  male  and  female,  and,  in  conversation 
after  the  sei-vice  with  several  members  of  the  congregation  and  scholars 
in  the  school,  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  earnestness  and  knowledge 
exhibited.  Tlie  I'escue  work  connected  with  this  mission  has  been  a 
great  blessing,  and  many  a  hfe,  over  which  a  dark  shadow  had  settled, 
has  been  brightened  and  brought  back  to  purity  and  joy  through  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Masters,  his  predecessor  Dr.  Gibson,  and  then*  self- 
sacrificing  coadjutors. 

Very  successful  schools  are  conducted  in  the  same  cities  by  the  Eev. 
Mr.  Hartwell  of  the  Baptist  Mission,  as  also  by  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  It  is  very  pleasing  to  find  such  work  going  on  in  a  city 
where  the  Anti-Chinese  feeUng  is  so  strong ;  for  thereby  the  Chinese 
are  given  to  see  that  those  who  accept  the  Bible  as  the  rule  and  guide 
of  their  lives  are  anxious  that  the  same  rule  shoidd  be  given  to  them, 
that  they  also  may  be  made  partakers  of  all  Gospel  blessings. 

Prom  what  has  been  stated  it  will  be  seen  that  Sunday  schools  are 
destined  to  play  an  important  part  in  the  evangehzation  of  the  Chinese. 
In  China  we  have  a  vast  field  before  us,  and  many  pecuhar  difficulties 
beset  cur  endeavours  to  establish  Sunday  schools.     We  imitate,  where 


In  China.  105 

practical,  the  best  nioileb  known  to  »is,  and  wliere  this  is  iniiJi-aelieal, 
we  aecoinmodate  ourselves  to  the  customs,  ami  to  some  extent  perhaps 
the  prejutlices  of  (he  people.  AVe  thus  seek  by  all  and  every  means  to 
bring  tlie  young  under  tlie  inlluenees  of  tlie  Gospel.  If  we  can  do  this, 
we  may  not  only  hope  that  a  due  regard,  respect,  and  love  for  the  young 
and  rising  generation  may  be  awakened,  and  tliat  thus  China's  golden 
age  may  be  transferred  from  the  dead  past  to  the  bright  and  pregnant 
future,  but  we  may  also  hope  that  the  young  themselves  will  be  brought 
to  know  the  only  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  lie  has  sent. 

The  Peesident  :  Mrs.  Stott,  who  has  long  conducted  a  Chinese 
girls'  Sunday  school  in  China,  will  give  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  account 
of  her  experiences. 

Address  hi/  Mk3.  Stott. 

Sunday  schools  in  China  are  conducted  under  greater  difficidties  than 
could  be  easily  imagined  in  this  country,  and  they  are  therefore  carried 
on  on  different  lines.  We  have  not  there  a  people  that  have  a  know- 
ledge of  God.  We  have  acted  as  pioneers  in  places  where  the  name  of 
God  was  never  heard  before,  where  we  were  surrounded  by  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  people  who  had  never  heard  that  there  was  a  God,  and 
where  the  erection  of  a  Smiday  school  was  somewhat  difficult. 

I  tried  it  a  good  many  years  ago.  As  I  passed  to  and  from  the 
chapel,  a  very  few  minutes  from  the  house,  I  saw  a  great  many  children, 
and  my  heart  longed  to  gather  them  into  the  school  to  tell  them  some 
of  the  beautifid  stories  to  be  found  in  our  precious  Bible. 

I  had  already  a  boys'  boarding-school  at  that  time,  and  a  Sunday 
school  in  the  form  of  a  Bible-class.  One  afternoon  I  asked  the  boys  to 
go  out  into  the  streets  and  lanes  near  by  and  ask  the  cluldren  to  come 
in  and  hear  a  story. 

Children  in  China  are  very  much  the  same  as  chUdreu  in  India  or  in 
Euglapd ;  they  all  hke  stories,  at  least  so  I  think.  They  gathered  in, 
and  I  began  to  tell  them  the  fascinating  story  of  Jesus.  I  left  olf  at  a 
veiy  interesting  part,  and  told  tliem — they  did  not  of  course  know 
what  Simday  meant — "I  wiH  send  out  again  in  a  few  days  and  call  you, 
and  you  will  come  and  hear  the  rest  of  the  stoiy  ;"  and  before  they 
went  away  I  gave  them  each  a  pretty  pictm-e.  All  the  children  were 
dehghted  with  the  pictures,  and  I  thought  that  woidd  be  an  induce- 
ment to  them  to  come  again.  Next  Sunday  I  sent  out  my  elder  boys 
to  try  and  gather  them  in,  but  not  one  covdd  be  found  anywhere.  I 
said,  "What  has  become  of  the  childi-en  ?  "  "We  cannot  get  them," 
was  the  reply.  I  said,  "  Have  you  seen  none  of  tlie  children  ?  "  "  No, 
we  have  not  found  one  of  tliem." 

The  following  week  they  came  to  me  with  this  explanation :  "  The 
children  had  gone  home  greatly  delighted  with  what  they  had  heard, 
and  charmed  with  the  pictures,  and  they  showed  their  mothers  and 
fathers  the  pietm-es  they  had  had  from  the  '  foreign  woman '  over  there, 
and  they  were  greatly  alarmed.     These  forcignei-s — had  they  not  come 


106  Organized  Sanday  School  Work: 

to  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  people,  aucl  try  to  steal  away  the  children, 
and  give  them  some  medicine  that  would  tmui  theu'  hearts  into  the 
hearts  of  foreigners  ?  Tliey  seek  in  this  way  by  pleasant  stories  and 
pictures  to  entice  them  away  from  their  homes,  and  by-and-by  they 
will  be  shipped  off  to  a  foreign  country,  and  there  will  be  an  end  of 
om-  childi-en."  So  we  found  that  what  we  had  hoped  would  be  a  great 
liel]3  proved  the  gi'catest  hindrance.  This  was  one  great  mistake  in 
connection  with  our  work  in  China. 

"We  cannot  go  on  the  lines  Mr.  Pool  has  referred  to,  holding  out 
inducements.  We  must  go  on  the  merits  of  Christ  simply.  We  must 
say,  "  We  come  here  for  a  definite  piu-pose ;  to  tell  you  there  is  a 
living  Grod,  who  has  sent  you  a  Saviour,  about  whom  we  want  to  tell 
you."  We  gave  neither  pictures,  nor  sweets,  nor  money,  nor  anything 
else  to  induce  them  to  come. 

I  think  our  American  fi-iends  have  very  much  to  teach  us  in  the 
matter  of  Sunday  schools.  The  best  Smiday  schools  to  be  seen  in 
Clima  have  been  conducted  by  om'  American  friends.  They  seem  to 
know  very  much  better  than  we  do  the  difficulty  of  dealing  with  the 
older  people.  They  know  how  to  retain  the  boys  when  they  come  to  be 
sixteen  or  seventeen  ;  how  to  hold  the  young  women  when  they  are  mai*- 
ried  and  have  children  of  theii*  own.  They  have  separate  classes  for 
childi'cn  and  for  young  people  and  adults.  There  are  a  good  many  such 
schools  in  different  parts  of  Chma  conducted  by  bretlu-en  from  America. 
In  our  district,  howeyer,  we  have  not  gone  very  much  into  Sunday 
school  work. 

Being  single-handed,  and  Having  a  large  girls'  boarding-school,  we 
made  that  into  a  Sunday  school.  We  had  one  large  class  of  men, 
which  was  taken  in  hand  by  the  missionary.  The  gu-ls  and  chUdi'en 
were  formed  into  two  classes,  presided  over  by  two  of  the  elder  girls  of 
the  boarding-school.  Then  the  women  and  eldest  gu-ls  were  taken  into 
another  room,  and  had  a  class  to  themselves,  which  was  my  class  ;  and 
by  this  -way,  in  fom-  distinct  classes,  we  got  the  people  together.  Our 
aim  and  object  was  to  reach  the  souls  of  these  people.  We  worked  for 
years  without  seeing  any  apparent  residt.  Yoii  do  not  know  how  diffi- 
cult it  is  to  present  the  Gospel  so  that  those  who  have  never  heard  it 
may  take  hold  of  the  truth.  For  a  long  time  we  did  not  know  how  to 
overcome  that  difficidty.  I  laid  out  a  very  fine  plan  for  myself.  I 
began  away  in  the  Grarden  of  Eden.  I  gave  them  a  sketch  plan 
sliowmg  how  God  had  created  man,  and  the  fall,  and  God's  deahngs 
with  man,  without  law  and  iinder  law,  and  coming  down  to  the  Cross 
of  Christ — but  before  I  had  got  there  my  audience  had  tu-ed.  They 
had  come  to  a  conclusion,  and  said,  "  Your  doctrine  is  just  the  same  as 
om-s.  We  worship  heaven  and  earth."  I  said,  "It  is  not  at  all  like 
your  doctrine."  They  said,  "  Oh,  very  well,  yom-  doctrine  is  splendid, 
and  we  mean  to  accept  it."  They  would  listen  to  no  more.  I  was  in 
despau",  almost  heart-broken.  Surely  there  was  some  more  excellent 
way  out.    Tet  I  could  not  see  where  it  might  lie. 


In  China.  107 

One  diiy  I  was  surroimdod  by  a  crowd  of  children,  and  women,  with 
some  men  in  the  outer  circle.  As  I  stood  up  I  felt  a  strange  yearning 
in  my  soul  that  these  people  should  be  brought  to  Jesus.  I  called  out, 
"Friends,  have  you  ever  heard  of  heaven  and  hell?"  "Yes,  we 
inow  of  heaven  and  hell,"  they  replied.  I  said,  "  I  am  not  going  to 
speak  to  you  of  hell.  It  is  not  worth  talking  about.  Let  me  speak 
a  little  while  about  heaven."  I  pictiu-ed  heaven  in  all  its  beauty,  and 
glory,  and  freedom  from  sin  ;  but  they  did  not  understand,  as  they  had 
never  felt  tlie  burden  of  sin.  But  as  I  went  on  to  speak  of  freedom 
from  poverty,  disease,  blindness,  and  aU  that  makes  life  miserable  on 
this  earth,  I  saw  that  I  had  caught  their  attention  as  never  before. 
But  I  said,  "  Before  you  can  get  there,  one  thing  is  needfid."  "  Wliat 
is  that  ?  "  some  one  asked.  I  said,  "  Sin  must  be  put  awaj'."  One  re- 
plied, "  We  women  have  no  sin."  Another  said,  "  I  do  not  know  what 
you  mean  ;  "  and  a  tliii-d  called  out,  "  How  is  that  to  be  done  ?  "  I 
then  told  them,  coming  right  to  the  cross  of  Clu-ist,  the  wonderful 
story  of  God's  Middleman — how  He  had  sent  clown  His  own  Sou  to  be 
the  Middleman,  to  be  our  Savioiu-.  If  there  is  one  thing  understood 
in  China  more  than  another,  it  is  this  media torsliip.  Nothmg  hardly 
is  done  there  witliout  a  middleman. 

I  foimd  I  had  touched  a  chord  I  had  never  touched  before — that  I 
liad  in  some  measm-e  solved  the  difficulty.  From  that  day  to  this  we 
liave  always  begun  where  we  left  off  before,  at  the  cross  of  Christ — ■ 
and  we  have  proved  over  and  over  again  that  that  cross,  that  glorious 
Gospel,  is  God's  power  mito  salvation  to  every  one  that  beheveth.  And 
in  the  hcai-ts  of  the  people  of  China  it  brings  forth  exactly  the  same 
fruits  as  elsewhere  that  the  same  Spii'it  touching  the  hearts  brings 
forth  the  same  fi-uits  among  all  nations. 

We  had  a  boy  in  the  school  converted  when  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  bright,  intelligent  lad,  and  after  bis  conversion  he  was  the 
means  in  the  hand  of  God  of  beginnmg  work  in  another  part  of  the 
country,  just  proving  that  God  takes  up  the  weak  thiiigs  of  the  world, 
the  things  that  are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  the  things  that  are.  At 
the  age  of  fom-teen  he  went  to  a  city  forty  miles  away,  to  attend  on  a 
native  preacher.  One  day  he  strolled  into  a  Buddhist  temple,  and 
there  found  an  old  man  worshipping  idols.  He  waited  till  the  man 
had  finished  his  devotions  ;  then,  seating  himself  by  the  side  of  the 
devotee,  he  said  :  "  Venerable  grandfather,  do  the  idols  see  and  hear 
you  when  you  worship?"  "Yes."  "But  you  see  they  are  made  of 
clay  :  how  can  they  answer  your  prayers  ?  "  Said  the  man,  "  I  do  not 
worship  the  clay ;  but  inside  the  idol  there  is  a  spu'it  that  can  see  and 
hear."  The  boy,  who  had  often  heard  Mr.  Stott  answer  such  questions 
as  these,  said :  "  You  say  there  is  a  spirit  in  the  god ;  but  look  at  this 
one — it  has  a  dirty  face ;  it  has  not  been  washed  for  ever  so  long. 
There  is  another  whose  nose  is  broken  off;  and  it  has  not  had  the  sense 
to  have  it  mended.  This  other  one  has  had  part  of  its  moustache  taken 
away  ;  yet  it  has  not  been  able  to  protect  itself.     What  is  the  use  of  a 


108  Onjaimed  Sanday  School   Worh : 

spirit  inhabiting  a  body  that  cannot  protect  it  better  than  this  ?  We 
have  a  spirit  within  our  bodies  :  but  rats  do  not  run  away  with  our 
moiistache.  I  can  speak  to  you  and  you  can  hear,  because  of  the  spirit 
within.  Let  the  spirit  leave  our  bodies,  and  we  are  dead,  hke  the  idols, 
and  we  cannot  protect  ourselves."  The  old  man  was  struck  with  the 
wisdom  of  the  boy,  and  asked  where  he  had  learned  such  wonderful 
things.  He  replied,  "  In  tlie  school  at  Wxui-chau.  But  I  can  tell  very 
little.  If  you  go  to  the  preacher,  he  can  teU  you  more."  Tlie  old  man 
went,  and  took  his  wife  with  him.  They  learned  of  the  Sa^■iour,  and  at 
last  believed.  That  was  the  begmning  of  a  good  work  in  the  city,  where 
there  are  now  about  a  huudi-ed  professed  Christians. 

It  is  no  vam  thing  to  teach  the  children  there  the  truths  of  Grod. 
They  are  the  wisest  missionaries,  having  the  modesty  of  faitli,  and  very 
often  a  great  deal  of  tact,  knowing  just  where  to  come  in  at  the  right 
time. 

One  of  the  gu-ls  m  oui-  school  was  a  Christian,  and  had  gone  through 
remarkable  experiences  in  her  conversion.  There  came  a  woman  to  ur* 
on  one  occasion  who  wanted  to  be  baptized.  We  had  spoken  to  her, 
and  wei-e  not  convinced  that  she  was  born  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  "\Vc 
are  not  at  all  anxious  to  perpetuate  in  Cliina  a  kind  of  Christianity 
we  often  see  here — a  form  of  godliness  without  power.  We  want  living 
souls  for  our  Master,  diamonds  that  will  adorn  His  crown  throughoiit 
eternity.  As  we  were  not  sm-e  this  woman  was  converted,  we  would 
not  baptize  her,  but  asked  her  to  wait.  Her  husband  was  a  Christian, 
and  wished  her  to  be  a  Christian.  She  strolled  into  the  school,  and, 
sitting  down  beside  the  gu4  referred  to,  said,  "  You  know  I  came  here 
befoi'e,  and  wanted  to  be  baptized,  and  they  would  not  have  me  then . 
I  do  hope  they  will  baptize  me  now,  for  I  want  to  be  a  Clu'istian.'' 
The  gh'ls  said  to  her,  "  But  are  you  born  again  ?  "  She  said,  "  I  do  not 
know.  I  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  All  the  house  is  cleai-ed  of 
idolatiy.  There  is  not  a  shred  left.  I  pray  morning  and  evenuig,  and 
ask  a  blessing  three  times  on  my  meals.  What  more  is  there  to  do?  " 
The  gh'l  said,  "  You  must  be  bom  again.  '  Except  a  man  be  born 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.' "  "  I  do  not  understand 
you."  "  Then,"  said  the  girl,  "  if  you  do  not  understand  it,  I  am  very 
mucli  afraid  you  have  not  been  born  again.  I  have  been  born  again 
and  know  it,  and  it  has  made  such  a  wouderfid  difference  in  my  life 
and  wrought  such  a  wonderful  change  in  my  heart.  I  am  quite  sure 
if  yoxi  were  born  again  you  woidd  know  it  too."  The  woman  went 
away  to  her  room,  and,  kneeUug  before  her  couch,  she  cried,  "  Oh,  God, 
they  tell  me  if  I  would  go  to  heaven  I  must  be  born  again.  Let  me  be 
born  again  to-night.  They  tell  me  I  must  be  washed  in  the  blood  of 
Christ  and  have  my  sins  cleansed.  If  I  liave  never  been  washed,  oh, 
wash  me  to-night." 

Then  came  the  prayer  meeting,  and  at  that  tliere  were  about  sixteen 
or  seventeen  candidates  to  be  exammed  for  baptism,  and  she  took  her 
seat  beside  them.     My  dear  husband  said  to  her,  "  Have  you  been 


Ill  Mi'.vlro.  109 

bom  again?"  It  is  very  stnuif^c  lie  sliould  have  used  tiic  same  ques- 
tion. Never  slinll  T  forgot  the  sight  of  that  faee  ns  the  tears  ran  down 
it.  "  Yes,  teaelu-r,"  she  said,  "  I  have,  but  only  to-night."  Then  she 
ivpeatcd  what  tlie  girls  had  told  her,  and  liow  she  had  gone  to  her 
room  ;  how  the  light  had  eutei-ed  her  heart ;  and  how  she  thanked  God 
that  she  had  been  born  again.  This  was  the  work  of  a  little  girl.  Do  not 
let  us  wait  till  tlie  children  ai-o  old  in  sin  before  we  lead  them  to  the 
Saviour,  for  they  will  be  the  missionaries  of  the  future.     (Cheers.) 

The  PiiESiDKNT  :  A  rather  novel  request  lias  been  sent  up  to  the 
jilatform.  A  friend  asks  whether  Mrs.  Stotc  will  repeat  the  Lord's 
Prayer  in  Cliiuese.  As  she  does  it,  let  us  catcli  the  eeho  of  the  millions 
of  young  Chinese  voices. 

Mi's,  Stott  then  x'speated  the  Lord's  prayer  in  Chinese. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  IN  MEXICO. 
£i/  Ket.  Hubert  "VV.  Brown  (Mexico  Citj). 

Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  Convention,  those  who  have 
spoken  to  you  of  the  Sabbath  school  work  in  India  and  China  have  not 
been  obliged  to  lay  stress  upon  the  needs  of  those  countries,  all  that  is 
taken  for  granted  from  the  fact  that  they  are  pagan  lands.  More  than 
one  person,  however,  has  said  to  me,  I  do  not  see  why  you  aa-e  work- 
ing in  Mexico,  they  have  already  a  church  of  Christ,  you  are  not  needed 
there.  I  must  therefore  try  at  the  veiy  outset  to  correct  this  mistaken 
idea  as  to  the  efficiency  of  the  Eoman  Cathohc  Church  in  Mexico. 

The  policy  and  practice  of  the  Romish  clergy  iu  Mexico  have  been 
characterized  by  three  thuigs.     First,  they  have  made 

THE   BIBLE   A   SEALED   BOOK, 

and  forbidden  the  masses  to  read  it  under  severe  spiiitual  penalties. 
Nominally  Christian,  for  three  ccntiu-ies  the  Mexicans  have  lived  with- 
out the  Word  of  God. 

In  the  second  place,  the  lack  of  Gospel  truth  has  been  supphcd  by 

A   M.A.SS   OF   TRADITIONS   AND  SUPERSTITIONS 

which  have  a  great  deal  to  say  about  penance  and  the  confessional,  about 
good  works  and  the  purchase  of  merit,  about  saints  and  the  Vu'gin 
Mary.  Christ  is  iu  the  backgi'ound,  it  is  true,  but  there — only  in  the 
background. 

In  the  thii'd  place,  the  lives  of  the  majority  of  then-  spiritual  instruc- 
tors have  led  the  people  to  look  lightly  upon 

SOME    OF   THE    GROSSEST   FORMS    OF   SIN. 

Priestly  absolution  and  money  can  atone  for  anything.  The  outward 
act  takes  the  place  of  heart  obedience  and  devotion.  The  vows  of 
priestly  celibacy  have  been  made  the  excuse  for  unblushing  immorality. 


liO  Organized  Sunday  School    1^037.;." 

Let  the  confessional  and  pastoral  visit  bear  their  testimony.  Tims  by 
precept  and  example  the  religions  gnides  of  Mexico  have  dwarfed  and 
perverted  the  Mexican  conscience,  and  at  the  same  time  have  striven 
Avith  eminent  snccess  to  keep  the  mass  of  the  people  in  a  state  of  igno- 
rance bnt  one  remove  from  heathenism. 

The  immorality  of  priest  and  people,  the  venality  of  the  priesthood 
and  ignorant  superstitiousness  of  the  people,  and  the  prohibition  of 
Bible  study,  these  are  three  great  reasons  why  we  Protestants  are  at 
work  in  Mexico.  We  need  especially  the  Sabbath  school,  with  its 
trainmg  and  teaching  of  the  young,  who  are  the  despair  or  tlie  hope  of 
every  nation. 

All  the  missionary  workers  in  Mexico  reahze  the  unportance  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  and"^  we  are  strivmg  toward  the  same  ideal  which  has 
been  so  largely  realized  in  Protestant  England  and  America.  "VYe  are, 
however,  only  on  the  threshhold,  we  are  but  just  beginning,  and  under 
such  different  conditions  that  we  cannot  always  follow  in  the  beaten 
track.  This  is,  however,  but  another  proof  of  the  Divhie  vitality  and 
adaptability  in  every  genuine  Gospel  movement.  The  Sabbath  school 
is  proving  its  fitness  under  the  most  diverse  conditions ;  it  is  capable  of 
uplifting  the  young  of  all  nations.  It  can  bring  the  children  of  everj' 
clime  and  condition  to  Christ,  their  lovmg  Saviour,  and  place  them  in 
His  arms,  where  they  will  be  blessed. 

The  moment  we  attempt  to  orgaiaize  a  school  ii\  almost  any  part  of 
Mexico  we  find  that  it  is 

NEAKLT   IMPOSSIBLE   TO   SECURE   THE   EIGHT   KIND   OF   TEACHERS. 

There  are  numbers  who  arc  wilhng  to  teach,  but  who  lack  themselves 
sufficient  knowledge  of  Bible  truth,  and  have  never  learned  how  to 
impart  to  others  in  a  pleasing  and  instructive  manner  thehttle  they  do 
know. 

In  the  mission  with  wliich  I  am  connected — and  I  suppose  the  same  is 
true  of  all  the  rest — we  are  trying  to  meet  tliis  difficulty  m  oiu-  normal 
school  for  gh-ls  and  in  our  theological  seminary,  by  giving  religious 
instruction,  and  then  telhng  the  pupils  to  teach  others  what  they  them- 
selves have  been  taught.  Tor  example,  five  days  in  the  week  the  fii-st 
three  quarters  of  an  hour  of  the  morning  session  in  our  theological 
semiuaiy  is  devoted  to  study  of  the  International  Lesson  for  the  coming 
Sabbath.  This  woidd  be  looked  upon  as  a  strange  proceedmg  in  our 
home  schools  of  theology,  but  remember  that  the  young  men  we  are 
■vvoi'kino'  with  have  had  Uttle  or  no  previous  home  training.  We  must 
Detain  at  the  very  foundation — impart  the  rudiments  of  a  religious 
education.  We  therefore  gather  together  the  members  of  all  the  grades 
into  one  class  and  study  the  International  Lesson,  M'ith  the  collateral 
passages  and  the  weekly  readings,  using  both  the  leaflet  and  the  Bible. 

Then,  when  the  Sabbath  comes,  most  of  the  young  men  are  sent  out 
into  the  towns  and  villages  around  Tlalpan,  and  told  to  teach  others 


Ill  Mexico.  \\\ 

wluit  they  luu-c  learned,  unci  as  iar  as  possible  to  use  the  method  of 
question  and  answer.  We  look  upon  this  as  one  of  our  most  important 
exercises,  and  thus  far  it  has  boi-nc  good  fruit.  It  will  make  it  impos- 
sible for  our  young  men  to  teach  in  the  futmv  as  some  hare  in  the  past 
that  Isaac  read  Taul's  EpisI  Ics,  and  they  matlc  liim  an  obedient  son ;  that 
John's  prophecy  that  ho  should  decrease  -while  Christ  increased  Avas 
literally  fulfilled  ■when  the  Baptist's  head  was  sevei-ed  from  his  body 
and  his  stature  thus  diminished,  and  that  the  Holy  Land  is  a  part  of 
Mexico. 

Our  students  are  cbilled  five  days  in  each  week  for  three  or  four 
years  in  a  right  method,  and  made  to  put  it  in  practice,  and  told  that 

THE    SABBATH     SCHOOL    IS   ONE   OF   THE   ESSENTIAL   BRANCHES    OF    .ML 
GOSPEL   EFFORT.' 

We  believe  in  the  Sabbath  school  in  Mexico. 

When  our  men  leave  the  seminary  and  begin  active  work  and  trv  to 
organize  Sabbath  schools  they  are  very  apt  to  find  that  they  have  no 
church  members  fit  as  yet  to  act  as  teachers.  In  such  cases  they  are 
told  to  turn  their  whole  congregation  into  one  big  class.  The  Mission 
prints  and  distributes  freely  the  necessary  Lesson  Leaves,  and  away  up 
in  the  mountains,  in  little  villages  in  the  valleys  of  Mexico,  I  have  seen 
more  than  one  pastor  with  his  congregation  gathered  about  him,  few 
able  to  read,  the  best  only  with  difficulty,  and  teaching  them  the  same 
lesson  you  are  studying  at  home. 

One  faithful  worker  raised  the  question  whether  it  were  possible  to 
have  a  Simday  school  except  on  the  Sabbath.  He  and  many  others 
were  in  charge  of  several  congregations,  and  had  to  preach  to  some  on  a 
week  day.  He  was  told  by  all  means  to  have  a  Sabbath  school  even  on 
a  week  day.  It  was  a  case  in  which  tlie  sph-it,  if  not  the  letter,  of  the 
law  was  to  be  observed.  So  we  have  many  schools  in  which  the  pastor 
is  superintendent,  and  the  congregation  forms  the  one  big  class.  This 
plan  has  this  advantage,  all  have  the  best  teacher  obtainable,  and  all, 
old  and  yoiuig,  arc  present. 

lu  the  larger  commimities,  especially  in  Mexico  City, 

ALL  THE  MISSIONS  HAVE  liEGULARLY  OEG.VNIZED  SCHOOLS, 

with  supermtendent,  classes,  and  teachers.  In  some  of  these  we  also 
use  the  large  illustrated  charts  with  which  you  are  all  familiar.  They 
are  found  to  be  of  great  service,  since  they  appeal  to  the  imagination, 
present  the  important  facts  of  the  lesson  in  tangible  form,  and  serve  to 
fix  them  in  the  memory  of  old  and  young. 
Our  Mission  has  also  some  six  or  seven 

D.VY  SCHOOLS 

in  the  Mexican  capital,  taught  by  native  men  and  women.     The  pastor 
of  our  principal  native  church  visits  these  schools  when  possible  every 


112  Onjanized  Sundaij  School   Worlc : 

week  and  takes  with  him  the  chart  of  tlic  Sabbath's  lesson.  This  is 
liuii"-  on  the  wall  in  the  sight  of  the  scholars,  and  they  are  questioned 
as  to  what  it  represents.  I  have  been  surprised  to  note  the  eagerness 
of  tlie  boys  and  girls,  the  pleasure  'depicted  on  their  countenances,  and 
the  readiness  of  their  answers.  Many  of  the  pupils  are  from  Eomau 
Catholic  homes,  and  this  is  theu-  only  Bible  lesson ;  but  they  learn  it 
and  remember  it.  But  this  is  not  the  only  lesson,  for  we  teach  them 
our  simpler  evangelical  catechisms,  with  proof-texts,  and  all ;  they  learn 
easily,  and  thus  gain  a  treasury  of  Scripture  texts  which  may  yet  prove 
the  salvation  of  theu-  souls.  We  try  to  do  some  Sabbath  school  work  in 
our  Mission  Day  Schools.  The  conditions  warrant  such  a  procedure, 
and  the  blessed  fruit  we  hope  to  see — better  we  are  seeing  already— in 
our  scholars. 

Let  me  mention  iu  this  connectiou 


ONE  EXAMPLE  OF  FAITHFUL  WORK. 

He  lived  in  a  miserable  horel,  m  one  of  the  worst  quarters  of  Mexico 
City.  He  made  a  few  rude  benches,  and  put  them  in  one  of  the  two 
little  rooms  his  house  contained.  The  Mission  fm-nished  him  with  the 
simple  books  he  was  capable  of  tisiug.  In  his  humble  home  that  earnest 
worker  gathered  the  dirty,  ragged,  degraded  children  of  the  street, 
mainly  of  Eomish  families,  and  taught  them  to  read  the  Bible,  to  repeat 
Scrlptm-e  texts,  and  to  sing  the  simple  Gospel  hymns  he  himself  loved 
so  well.  I  shall  never  forget  my  first  visit  to  that  school.  He  did  what 
he  could,  and  tlu-ough  him  more  than  one  child  learned  of  God  his 
Father,  and  of  Christ  his  Saviour.  That  hiunblehorae  was  a  lighthouse 
of  radiant  truth,  a  Sabbath  school  five  days  in  the  week. 

Equally  iuspirmg  to  me  is  the  memory  of  a  visit  I  made  last  Decem- 
ber to  a  part  of  Mexico  into  which  no  missionary  had  penetrated  before 
me.  Similar  testimony  can,  I  am  sure,  be  borne  by  all  my  companions 
in  this  Tlorious  work  for  the  world's  uplifting.  In  the  places  I  visited 
I  met  with  grou]is  of  Bible  Christians,  who,  by  the  reading  of  tracts 
and  the  Bible,  had  been  led  to  renoimce  Komish  superstition  and 
accept  Christ  as  theii*  Saviour.  They  had  no  preacher  nor  teacher, 
but  week  after  week  they  met  together  to  study  the  Bible.  The  Bible 
is  still  the  power  of  God  ;  it  can  go  unattended  into  the  dark  places  of 
earth,  and  radiate  light  till  men  awake  and  see  and  accept  Christ. 

God  bless  and  speed  in  their  good  work  our  Bible  societies  ;  they  are 
doing  to  the  world  imtold  good.  In  Mexico,  at  least,  the  Bible  has 
oro-auized  its  own  Sunday  schools  ;  it  has  set  the  seal  of  inspu-ed 
approval  to  this  branch  of  our  work. 

I  have  thus  endeavom-ed  as  briefly  as  possible  to  give  you  an  idea  of 
the  kind  of  Sabbath  school  work  we  are  doing  in  Mexico.  As  ah-eady 
implied,  we  try,  fu"st  of  all,  to  get  the  people  to  accept  and  read 
the  Bible,  wliich  has  been  sent  everywhere  throughout  the  Mexican 
Hepublic;  we  prmt  in  Spanish  the  International  Lesson,  and  distri' 


In  Mexico.  113 

bute  it  freely  ;  \vc  ilevole  a  column  in  oiu"  mission  jnlpci's  to  the  tx'cat- 
meut  of  the  lesson  topics,  and  our  jjapcrs  have  a  wide  circulation ;  we 
train  cm*  tiieological  students  in  correct  metliods  of  Sabbath  scliool 
work  ;  we  insist  tliat  our  Mexican  workers  organize  Sunday  schools  of 
one  or  the  other  kinds  mentioned  above ;  we  have  the  beginnings  of  u 
Sabbath  school  literature ;  we  have  Sabbath  school  hymn-books. 

The  educated  laugh  at  the  strange  "  poetry  "  of  our  Gospel  liyrans  ; 
they  are  undoubtedly  an  innovation  in  Spanish  literature,  but,  then, 
liow  the  people  sing  them  and  remember  them !  It  is  worth  the  viola- 
tion of  technical  poetical  rules  to  have  thousands  sing :  "  Jesus,  Lover  of 
my  soul;"  "Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee  ;  "  "There  is  a  happy  land  ;  " 
"  What  a  friend  we  have  in  Jesus,"  and  like  glorious  songs,  that  lift  the 
singei-s  into  a  resilm  of  pm-e  delight,  such  as  they  never  knew  before, 
and  into  the  company  of  the  saints  immortal  who  dwell  with  Jesus. 
Our  people  love  to  sing  the  songs  of  the  redeemed. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  present  you  any  large  statistics.  Our  num- 
bers ai-e  small  as  yet,  only  a  few  thousands.  Nor  can  I  tell  you  much 
about  thoroughly  organized  work.  As  I  stand  before  you,  you  and 
your  work  tell  me  what  we  one  day  hope,  by  God's  good  guidance,  to 
see  in  Mexico.  I  hope  that  what  we  have  said  of  the  work  in  less 
favoured  lands  may  lead  you  to  bless  God  for  His  gi-eat  goodness  toward 
you  and  yours,  and  stimidate  you  to  renewed  effort.  Thank  God  for 
tlie  Sabbath  school ;  it  is  blessed  of  Him  to  the  salvation  of  thousands, 
nay,  millions,  of  the  young  all  round  the  world. 

Tlie  proceedings  were  closed  by  prayer  and  the  benediction. 


114  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 


SECOND  DAY.— FIFTH  SESSION". 

Wednesday  Afternoon,  July  ?iRii, 
THE  WOEK  EXAMINED. 

THE  INTEENATIONAL  LESSON  PLAN. 

The  Session  commenced  with  the  singing  of  the  Hymn  "Hail  to  tlie 
Lord's  Anointed,"  after  which  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  read  121st  Psahn. 
The  Eev.  Henet  Cox  (Ontario)  then  offered  prayer,  followed  hy 
Mr.  Jacobs.  Hymn  19,  "  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds  onr  hearts  in 
Christian  love,"  was  then  sung ;  after  which  t]ie  Presideiit,  liaying 
obtained  the  consent  of  the  meeting  to  proceed  with  the  bnsines.s  at 
once,  called  upon  Mr.  B.  T.  Jacobs  to  present 

THE   EEPOET   OP   THE   EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE 

on  the  resolutions  they  liad  had  before  them. 

Mr.  Jacobs  said  :  I  must  say  to  the  brethren  that  it  may  plea.^i' 
you  to  know  tliat  we  hare  spent  one  hom-  of  the  brief  interval  oter 
this  matter,  and  we  have  earnestly  sought  to  reach  tiie  best  and  wisest 
conclusion  ;  but  jow  will  see  that  we  are  not  able  to  do  mucli  mori?' 
than  leave  it  to  yourselves.  The  execiitive  committee  have  carefidlf 
considered  the  question  of  limiting  the  time  of  addi-esses  and  papers  fur 
tliis  afternoon,  and  the  best  they  can  do  is  to  allow  thh-ty  minutes 
for  the  first,  twenty  minutes  each  for  the  tliree  foUowmg,  and  fifteen 
minutes  for  the  last  speaker.  If  the  Convention  desu-es  to  discuss  the 
papers  or  addresses,  a  vote  must  indicate  which  of  the  papers  shall  be 
omitted  ;  for  this  arrangement  will  carry  xis  to  4.45  o'clock.  Purther 
if  discussion  is  allowed,  we  recommend  that  it  occm-  at  the  close  of  all 
papers  or  addresses  for  that  session,  and  not  between  them.  (Hear 
hear.)  We  have  tried  to  be  very  fan-  about  that.  I  beg  to  move  the 
adoption  of  this  report. 

The  Scotch  Delegate  who  had  raised  this  question  said  he 
desu-ed  to  express  his  thorough  satisfaction  with  this  projDosal.  He 
was  sorry  to  have  moved  hi  the  matter,  and  was  veiy  glad  that  an 
understanding  had  been  come  to.     Some  of  them  expected  room  for 


The  Lcistiun  Cumin'Utcc.  115 

discussion,  Init  they  did  not  iiitciul  iiny  I'lU'Llicr  lo  couLeiid  for  it.     Tlie 

report  was  then  agreed  to. 

Mr.  E.  F.  J.\C0BS  read  a  resolutioa  ollcrcd  by  Mr.  St.  Johu  of 
Kansas :  That  all  members  and  delegates  who  shall  take  part  in  the 
discussion  of  subjects  before  the  Convention,  if  there  shall  be  discussion, 
be  hmited  to  three  minutes  each,  and  uo  one  be  permitted  to  speak  a 
second  time  until  all  have  spoken  -who  desu-e  to  speak  on  that  subject. 
Mr.  Jacobs  having  said  that  the  committee  approved  of  the  resolution, 
it  was  agi-eed  to. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Jacobs  {Chicago)  read  the  followuig  resolution  which 
was  handed  to  the  Chairman  :  "  That  this  Convention  heartily  approves 
of  the  Universal  Mercy  Band  Movement,  with  its  American  and  British 
Empire  Divisions,  contaimug  over  600,000  members  in  7,344  bands, 
forming  a  great  international  order  of  kindness,  justice,  peace,  and 
mercy  to  all,  and  protection  from  cruelty  for  women,  children,  and 
dumb  creatures  ;  and  wishes  the  movement  God  speed  in  its  career  of 
growing  iisefuhiess." 


IIEPORT  OF  THE  INTERNATIONAL  LESSON 
COMMITTEE. 

!By  Rey.  Waeren  Randolph,  D.D.  (U.S.A.). 

When  Kmg  George  the  Third  said,  "  It  is  my  wish  that  every  poor 
cliild  m  my  kingdom  should  be  taught  to  read  the  Bible,"  he  expressed 
a  wish  which  he  probably  did  not  expect  ever  to  see  realized.  There 
was  at  that  time  no  promise  of  any  such  wide-spread  knowledge  of  the 
Bible.  And  it  may  be  that  his  Majesty  did  not  realize,  as  the  British 
Sovereign  and  people  of  to-day  reaHze,  the  need  of  it.  Sovereign  and 
subjects  alike  now  see  the  value  of  the  Bible,  not  to  poor  children  only, 
but  to  the  children  of  poor  and  rich  alike ;  and  not  to  children  alone, 
but  to  adidts  as  well  as  cliildi-en. 

Wlien  the  harbinger  of  the  new  Sunday  school  dispensation  planted 
the  seedling  at  the  door  of  the  pin  factoiy  in  Gloucester,  he  had  no 
tliought  of  the  tree  beneath  whose  spreaduig  branches  we  are  sitting 
here  to-day  in  London.  A  royal  decree  might  multiply  copies  of  the 
Scriptures  and  send  out  teachers  of  the  same,  but  no  royal  decree  could 
make  loving  students  of  the  Bible.  "What  is  needed  is  not  sunply  an 
ability  to  read  the  Word  of  God,  but  a  disposition  and  an  abiUty  to 
"  feed  upon  it,"  and  "  inwardly  digest  it." 

The  plan  of  Bible  study  which  we  are  now  piu'suing  has  been  a 
matter  of  growth.  Its  gi'owth  ha-a  been  a  surprise  even  to  those  who 
Tindertook  to  promote  it.  If  any  ask  for  its  origin,  it  is  sufficient, 
perhaps,  to  point  him  to  Chicago — an  American  city  far  in  from  the 
sea,  whose  marvellous  liistory,  had  it  appeared  in  ancient  times,  would 
have  added  another  number  to  the  wonders  of  the  world. 

I  2 


IIG  Tlic  International  Lesson  Plan. 

"With  a  yearning  for  some  better  metliocl  of  Bible  instruction  than 
prevailed  in  our  Sunday  schools  of  twenty  years  ago,  there  were  some 
earnest  -workers  in  the  Sunday  school  cause  hving  in  the  City  by  the 
Lake  at  the  time  referred  to,  who  xrndertook  to  bring  about  a  reform. 
It  is  no  reflection  upon  others  to  say  that  two  of  them  were  then,  as 
now  looked  upon  as  leaders.     The  name  of  one  of  these  will  always  be 
linked  with  this  gi-eat  Sunday  school  Convention,  Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs, 
then  as  now  of  Chicago,  a  gentleman  who  has  been  designated  "  The 
Lieutenant  of  the  Simday  School  Ai-my."     The  other,  we  regret  to  say, 
cannot  be  at  this  Convention.     To  most  of  you  his  face  and  form  and 
voice  are  famihar.     Long  before  his  chm-ch  made  him  a  bishop,  he  was 
recognized  at  home  and  abroad  as  the  world's  "  Sunday  school  arch- 
bishop"—Dr.  John  H.  Vincent. 

The  fii'st  effort  of  these  gentlemen  for  the  improvement  of  Siinday 
school  instruction  was  to  secure  uniform  Bible  lessons  for  the  Sunday 
schools  of  aU  denominations  in  the  city  of  Chicago.     Not  only  was 
Dr.  Yincent  foremost  in  advocating  tliis  imiformity  in  Bible  study,  but, 
as  editor  of  "  The  Chicago  Teacher,"  he  was  probably  tlie  first  in  the 
world  to  give  expositions  of  Bible   lessons   mtended  exclusively  for 
Simday  schools.     So  successful  was  this  experiment  at  imiformity  in 
Cliicao^o  that  the  schools  of  other  towns  and  cities  soon  began  to  use 
these  lessons  also  ;  and  before  the  present  international  plan  was  agreed 
upon  it  is  beheved  that  there  were  thi-ee  milhons  of  people  engaged 
in  studying  the  lessons  issued  fi-om  Cliicago.     Then  the  question  arose, 
"  Why  not  extend  this  method  of  studying  the  Scriptures  throughout 
the  United  States,  and  so  make  it  national?  "     The  indications  were 
that  that  could  easily  be  done.     "But  why  not  strike  out  boldly,  and 
go  still  fiu'ther  ?  "  it  was  asked.     "  Why  not  make  it  international  ? 
Wliy  may  there  not  be  a  common  study  of  the  Bible  for  the  world  ?  " 
And,  if  this  report  is  to  be  true  to  the  facts,  it  must  be  added,  that  tlie 
question  appears  first  to  have  been  raised  by  a  gentleman  whose  name 
has  been  ah-eady  mentioned.     The  honour  of  suggesting  and  of  reso- 
lutely ui'giug  the  International  Lesson  system  belongs  to  Mr.  Benjamin 
Feanklin  Jacobs,  of  Chicago. 

The  question  of  adopting  a  plan  of  imited  Bible  study  was  decided 
at  a  National  Simday  School  Convention,  held  in  April,  1872,  ui  the 
city  of  Indianapohs — then  the  home,  as  it  continued  to  be  until  lie 
recently  removed  to  Washington,  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Harrisou,  no-\^ 
President  of  the  United  States,  who  was  at  that  time  as  he  has  since 
been — .hke  his  grandfather.  President  William  Hemy  Han-ison — an 
active  worker  in  the  Sunday  school.  The  Convention  was  a  large  one. 
It  was  also  representative  in  character.  Delegates  were  present  fi-om 
twenty-two  of  the  thii-ty-seven  states  then  composing  the  American 
Union.  Tisitors  were  also  present  from  Canada,  India,  and  Ireland, 
all  of  whom  were  invited  to  participate  in  the  discussions.  The  debate 
occupied  the  principal  part  of  an  entu-e  day.  The  gentleman  who 
opened  the  discussion   proposed  that   fia'st  of  all   prayer  should  be 


Tho  Lesson  Commiltcp.  1 1 7 

offered  foi"  divine  giiidanee.  At  tlic  request  of  the  presiding  olBccr, 
Mr.  Greorp;c  11.  Stuart,  of  Pliiladelphia,  led  tlio  assembly  in  a  prayer, 
most  tender  aiul  fervent. 

In  the  discu.ssion  not  less  than  fifteen  or  sixteen  lliorougldy  aroused 
men  participated.  Tiie  debates  in  the  American  Senate  seldom  exhibit 
more  of  the  dialectician's  eloquence  and  power  than  were  exhibited  on 
this  occasion.  Dr.  John  Hall,  whom  the  Presbyterians  of  Ireland  had 
then  lately  given  to  New  York,  vas  unexpectedly  prevented  from  being 
present  at  tlic  Convention,  but  he  sent  a  message  by  his  friend  and 
i-elative,  Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,  in  -wliich  he  said,  "If  any  one  inquu'es 
for  me  at  Indianapolis,  tell  tlie  brethren  assembled  that,  next  to  the 
ministry  of  Christ,  they  i-epresent  the  cause  of  truth  to  this  land,  and 
to  coming  generations.  If  they  honour  God's  Word,  He  will  honour 
them ;  and  if  He  -will  go  before  the  Sunday  school  hosts  the  whole 
land  is  theirs.  There  will  be  prayer  here  (in  New  York)  for  their 
guidance." 

Only  one  speech  of  note  was  made  against  the  plan.  In  that  (he 
6))eMker  based  his  objection  chiefly  on  the  ground  of  impracticability. 
He  illustrated  his  pomt  by  a  stoiy  which  showed  tlic  folly  even  of  a 
statesman.  The  story,  if  true,  simply  showed  that  the  statesman  was 
better  skilled  in  statecraft  than  in  managing  a  windmill.  It  was  to 
this  effect,  that  no  less  a  man  than  the  Hon.  Thomas  Jefferson,  thii-d 
President  of  the  United  States,  once  built  a  sawmill,  which  was  to  be 
run  by  wind.  He  built  it  o\\  the  top  of  a  mountain,  where  the  wind 
would  have  full  play  upon  its  canvas  wings.  Inviting  a  friend  to  look 
at  the  completed  structure,  he  asked,  "What  do  you  think  of  my 
mill  ?  "  His  friend  repUed,  "  It's  all  veiy  well  as  a  mill,  but  I  don't 
see  how  you  are  going  to  get  the  logs  up  to  it  to  saw  them."  So  the 
reverend  Doctor  thought  this  international  scheme  would  be  beautiful 
to  look  upon,  but  that  it  woidd  be  hard  to  get  the  people  up  to  it.  If 
he  could  have  foreseen  the  millions  who  in  less  than  a  year,  to  use  the 
language  of  Isaiah,  would  be  flying  to  it  "as  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves 
to  their  windows,"  he  woidd  not  have  told  his  story,  nor  have  m*ged 
his  objection. 

At  length  the  time  came  for  closing  the  debate.  Amid  loud  demands 
from  all  parts  of  the  house  for  a  vote,  the  chairman  rose  to  put  the 
question.  The  delegates  were  wrought  up  to  a  high  degree  of  en- 
thusiasm, but  the  whole  assembly  seemed  to  feel  a  most  solemn  sense 
of  respouslbihty.  That  there  should  be  no  uncertainty  as  to  how  the 
matter  was  decided,  the  chau-man  directed  that  the  vote  should  be 
given  by  rising.  At  his  word  the  great  throng  arose,  and,  when  the 
opposing  vote  was  called  for,  only  ten  men  ventm-ed  to  stand  up.  As 
by  a  common  impulse,  the  Convention  broke  out  in  the  Doxology,  in 
■which  all  EugUsh-speaking  people  give  voice  to  religious  joy : 

"Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

Tlie  next  day  a  committee  was  appointed  to  select  a  course  of  lessons 


lis  Tlic  International  Lesson  Flan. 

and  to  serve  for  six  years.  The  committee  was  made  to  consist  of  five 
clerg3mcn  and  live  laymen,  who  were  respectively  Methodists,  Tresby- 
terians,  Ijaptists,  EpiscopaUans,  and  Cougregationahsts.  When  the 
names  and  denominational  standmg  of  the  Committee  had  been  an- 
nounced, the  enthusiastic  assembly  again  arose  and  sung  with  inspired 
luietion, — 

"Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 

Our  hearts  in  Christian  love." 

The  Committee  was  instructed  to  select  "  A  course  of  lessons  for  a 
series  of  years  not  exceedmg  seven,  wliich  shall,  as  far  as  they  may 
decide  possible,  embrace  a  general  study  of  the  wliole  Bible." 

Canada  was  largely  represented  in  this  Convention,  and  a  purpose 
was  then  expressed  to  be  in  the  futm-e  wholly  identified  with  the  States 
in  this  Sunday  school  work — though  it  is  only  fair  to  say  here,  in  this 
British  metropolis,  that  these  Canadian  Sunday  scliool  men  have  never 
given  the  least  hint  of  disloyalty  to  the  British  Empire,  nor  of  a  wisli 
to  come— certainly  not  with  imseemly  haste — into  the  American  poli- 
tical union. 

In  view,  however,  of  then'  joinuig  us  in  this  new  phase  of  Sunday 
school  work,  it  was  decided  to  call  our  future  Conventions  International, 
and  to  call  our  Sunday  school  lessons  "the  International  Lessons." 

Before  leaving  Indianapohs  the  Committee  met  and  organized  for  the 
work  so  enthusiastically  laid  upon  them.  The  Eev.  Dr.  John  H. 
Vhicent,  now  Bishop  Vincent,  was  made  Chan-man,  and  Warren  Ran- 
dolph was  chosen  Secretary — positions  which  both  have  held  from  the 
beginm'ng  until  now.  The  time  of  the  Committee's  service  has  twice 
expired  by  limitation,  but  by  re-election  there  has  been  no  change  in 
the  office  of  Chan-man  or  Secretary  in  more  than  seventeen  years. 

A  new  Committee  was  appointed  in  187S.  About  one  half  the 
members  of  the  fh-st  Committee  were  appointed  upon  the  second.  The 
changes  wei-e  not  made  from  any  dissatisfaction  with  the  members  who 
retired.  A  noble  band  of  Christian  men  they  were.  In  a  letter  which 
one  of  them  wrote  in  taking  leave  of  the  Committee  he  said,  "  Perhaps 
in  the  New  Jerusalem  we  shall  all  at  some  time  meet  to  talk  over 
the  pleasant  work  of  oiu-  Lord  Ave  were  pei-mitted  to  do  when  on 
earth." 

The  success  of  our  system  made  the  changes  necessary.  A  portion 
of  the  United  States  and  some  denommations  of  Christians  not  at  Ih-st 
represented  in  the  Committee  desu-ed  now  to  participate  in  the  work, 
and  by,  action  of  the  Convention  were  allowed  to  do  so.  The  second 
Committee  was  made  to  consist  of  fom-teen,  only  three  of  whom  were 
laymen. 

In  1S84  a  thu-d  Committee  became  necessary,  which  was  also  made 
to  consist  of  fourteen,  and  agam  only  three  are  laymen.  The  term  of 
this  Committee  wiU  expu-e  m  1890.  Four  of  its  members,  Bishop 
J.  H.  Vincent,  Dr.  John  Hall,  Mr.  B.  E.  Jacobs,  and  the  Secretary, 


The  Lcnaon  ConDiutlec.  119 

liiivo  servoil  upon  the  f  luvo  C'oimuitlcos,  and  li.ivo  biHMi  iissot.'iiitod  in 
tliis  work  i'roin  its  ini-ipii'iioy. 

So  many  of  Iho  Coimnittcc  liavo  liclil  ovi-r,  or  nilluT  liavo  btn-ii  iv- 
ok'clctl,  that  -wo  may  speak  of  tlio  Committee  as  liaviiig  been  in  existence 
since  1872.  In  that  time  twenty  diU'civnt  )ueclings  have  been  held  in 
a  country  of  magnilieant  distances,  as  far  in  tlie  north-east  as  Montreal, 
in  Canada;  in  the  soutli-west  as  Nashville,  Tennessee  ;  in  the  iiorth- 
west  as  Chicago,  Illinois  ;  and  in  the  south-east  as  Richmond,  Virginia. 
In  the  prosecution  of  the  work  assigned  them  the  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee have  travelled,  in  the  aggregate,  not  less  than  215,000  miles,  or 
a  distance  equal  to  eiglit  and  a  half  times  round  the  world.  Very 
frequently  a  single  meeting  has  involved  more  than  10,000  miles  of 
travel,  and  has  required  from  tlu-ee  to  five  days  of  time  from  men, 
pressed  with  duties  in  the  pastoral  office,  in  the  professor's  class-room, 
or  in  the  marts  of  business.  One  member  of  the  Committee  has  tra- 
velled more  than  25,000  miles  in  its  service.  To  attend  a  single 
meeting,  that  held  in  Montreal,  another  member  travelled  nearly  40U0 
mdes. 

The  expense  of  these  journeys  is  now  paid  by  publishers,  who  have 
large  profits  from  the  sale  of  lesson  publications.  In  the  beginning,  how- 
ever, several  members  of  the  Committee  paid  the  cost  of  travel  entuvly 
fi'om  their  own  pockets.  No  member  of  the  Committee  has  ever  iv 
ceived  a  farthing  for  the  time  and  labom*  given  to  the  work. 

Oiu"  province  is  simply  to  lay  out  a  course  of  study  which  shall  cover, 
as  far  as  may  be,  both  the  Old  Testament  and  the  New.  We  are  pro- 
hibited from  making  any  comment,  and  we  are  limited  to  seven  years. 
Thus  guided,  our  Sunday  scliools  are  now  going  through  the  Bible  for 
the  third  time.  The  aim  has  been,  as  far  as  possible,  to  secm-e  some 
knowledge  of  eveiy  part  of  the  inspu-ed  volume.  Only  a  few  of  the 
minor  prophets  have  been  omitted.  In  some  cases  the  hasty  glance 
given  to  a  book  has  not  been  satisfactory  either  to  oiu'selves  or  others. 
iSome  have  spiced  then*  criticisjns  of  cm'  work  by  styling  it  "  the  hop- 
skip-and-jump  method."  The  latest  caricature  calls  it  "the  kangaroo 
method."  Without  attempting  a  reply  to  any  of  these  migenerous 
flings,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  amount  of  Scripture  suggested  for 
our  Sunday  school  course  will  compare  favourably  with  the  amount  of 
Scriptm'e  actually  studied  in  any  of  our  theological  semmaries.  But  to 
cut  down  our  com-se  of  study  to  three  or  four  years,  as  some  have  pro- 
posed, and  yet  go  through  the  Bible,  as  our  Sunday  schools  certainly 
shoidd,  will  requii'e  vastly  longer  leaps  than  any  yet  attempted.  Uni- 
formity in  study,  and  as  far  as  possible  the  study  of  the  whole  Bible, 
have  been  the  two  ideas  kept  constantly  in  mmd.  We  ought  not  to  be 
satisfied  until  our  Sunday  schools  have  at  least  some  knowledge  of  the 
general  drift  of  all  the  inspired  writers.  Of  com-se  the  historians  of 
God's  ancient  people  are  more  suited  to  Sunday  school  study  than  the 
prophets,  and  to  them  we  have  given  more  attention.  Vastly  more 
important  still  are  the  words  and  works  of  Christ  and  His  Apostles,  and 


120  The  Inlernational  Lessov  Plan. 

to  these  we  luive  given  more  than  lialf  the  time.  Our  aim  has  been  lo 
malie  O'ji"  8iniday  schools  know  the  Bible  as  a  book.  It  is  the  province 
of  the  teachers  to  make  them  know  the  meaning  of  the  book. 

Wo  saw  in  the  outset  that  it  would  be  no  easy  matter  to  meet  the 
wants  of  dill'erent  ages  and  conditions  ;  of  different  degrees  of  intelli- 
gence and  cidtm-e;  of  A'arious  opinions  and  behefs.  But,  brought 
together  as  we  have  been  fi-om  many  different  denominations,  we  have 
found  no  diflicidty  in  regard  to  a  common  ground  upon  which  to  stand  in 
turning  every  leaf  of  the  Bible.  There  is  not  a  chapter  or  verse,  from 
Genesis  to  Eevelation,  which  has  been  passed  by  because  of  differences 
of  opinion.  With  diiferent  interpretations  we  have  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do.  All  that  has  been  left  to  the  teachers  and  expositors  of  the 
different  schools  and  difierent  denominations.  To  some  of  us  it  may 
have  seemed  at  fh-st  impossible  to  surrender  what  might  be  necessary  in 
this  co-operative  study  of  the  Bible.  It  might  be  so  if  we  were  studying 
any  human  compilation,  even  of  theology.  But  not  m  studying  God's 
Word.  It  has  sometimes  been  charged  that  the  International  Lesson 
System  does  not  give  sufficient  prominence  to  religious  doctrines  and 
denominational  beliefs.  If  tliis  is  so,  it  must  be  because  they  do  not 
come  within  the  range  of  Bible  teaching.  Every  important  doctrine  or 
jjractice  taught  in  the  Word  of  God  will  have  been  studied  at  least 
three  times  in  the  lessons  now  i^rovided. 

We  have  often  been  memoriahzed  to  select  lessons  on  special  subjects, 
such  as  temperance  and  the  chxu'ch  festivals.  Till  1884  om*  reply  was 
that  we  were  not  appointed  to  do  this  ;  that  om-  work  was  restricted  to 
the  selection  of  lessons  as  they  occm*  in  the  Bible,  and,  while  we  did  not 
admit  that  any  important  doctrine  or  practice  had  in  this  way  been 
omitted,  we  recognized  the  right  of  superintendants  and  teachers  to 
give  prominence  to  such  themes  as  they  think  desnable.  But  the 
International  Convention  of  1884  recommended  that  the  Committee 
in  the  futm-e  provide  temperance  lessons  quarterly.  With  this  recom- 
mendation the  Committee  has  complied,  and  in  addition  to  temperance 
lessons  previously  used  in  our  regular  progression  through  the  Bible,  in 
which  we  had  nearly  exhausted  all  that  the  Bible  has  to  say  on  the 
subject  in  a  form  suitable  for  Sunday  school  lessons,  we  have  introduced 
a  few  others  which  clearly  teach  temperance,  but  in  a  way  wliicli  many 
think  unsuited  to  general  use  in  Sunday  schools. 

The  events  commemorated  by  the  festivals  of  the  chm'ch  year  are 
included  in  a  study  of  the  Bible.  And,  while  some  members  of  the 
Committee  would  prefer  special  lessons  relating  to  these  events  on  given 
days,  others  of  our  number,  representing  large  bodies  of  Christians,  do 
not  think  that  the  observance  of  such  days  is  conducive  to  the  highest 
intei'est  of  religion.  There  is  not  a  shadow  of  difference  among  us  as 
to  the  emphasis  to  be  given  to  the  events  themselves.  But  in  studying 
them  we  have  agreed  to  foUow  the  order  found  in  the  Word  of 
God. 

In  doing  so  we  have  rigidly  adhered  to  the  letter,  and,  as  we  think, 


Thi^  LeSKon  Corumini'f'.  121 

to  tlic  .sjiii-il  of  our  original  ai)pi>iiitnu'nf.  Kot  to  do  &o  would  bt>  \o 
■woiiiul  the  consciciipcs  of  niiuiy  and  to  cause  the  disrujjtiou  of  the  whole 
systi'iu.  The  system  may  be  easily  adjusted  by  the  schools  to  special 
necessities,  while  all  its  essential  features  ai'e  still  ])reserved.  To  follow- 
tlui  I'ihle  order  of  events  is  a  delight  to  many,  and  we  hope  will  j^i-ove  a 
hardship  to  none. 

We  have  sometimes  felt  the  force  of  the  difliculty  of  which  Bomc 
comi)lnin  in  adapting  to  little  children  lessons  which  arc  suited  to 
adults.  No  subject  can  be  studied  by  persons  of  diflei-ent  capacity 
without  some  difliculty.  In  the  case  of  the  JJible,  however,  we  arc 
quite  sure  the  difficulty  is  not  so  much  real  as  imaginary.  Eut,  with 
all  the  difficulties  encountered,  real  or  supposed,  w^e  still  hold  that  \ini- 
formity  in  the  subjects  of  study  is  one  of  the  glories  of  the  Inter- 
national Lesson  system.  Bible  lessons  do  not  need  to  bo  graded  in 
selection,  so  much  as  in  treatment.  There  is  often  present  to  our 
minds  an  illustration  \iscd  by  a  thoughtful  clergyman,  wlio  set  forth 
the  possibility  of  adapting  nniform  Bible  lessons  to  young  and  old,  by 
)-efcrence  to  the  treatment  of  children  in  our  families,  where  irom  Ihe 
fume  joint  we  find  meat  for  the  man,  and  broth  for  the  babe. 

It  is  believed  that  there  are  10,000,000  of  people  now  engaged  in 
studying  these  lessons.  One  result  has  been  an  increased  regard  for 
the  Bible,  and  for  the  Bible  as  a  whole.  The  Old  Testament  has  been 
found  still  to  be  instinct  with  life  and  power  even  for  children.  Through 
the  study  of  the  prophets  and  historians  of  the  old  disi^ensation  chil- 
dren have  been  taught  to  trace  the  hand  of  God  in  preparation  for  the 
coming  of  Messiah. 

Such  facilities  as  they  now  have  for  understanding  the  meaning  of 
the  Bible,  the  common  people  never  had  before.  Since  the  International 
lesson  system  was  introduced  even  the  intricacies  of  the  Bible  have 
been  laid  open  to  the  common  mind.  For  a  few  pennies  the  result  of 
the  ripest  scholarship  may  now  be  obtained.  It  did  not,  therefore, 
surprise  us,  on  t])e  western  side  of  the  Atlantic,  to  find  one  of  our 
Continental  fi-iends,  who  bears  a  name  which  Christians  of  every  land 
speak  only  with  tenderest  reverence  and  love,  but  who  now  feels  con- 
strained to  withdraw  from  our  united  work,  lately  saying  for  himself 
and  others,  "  But  we  are  sorry  to  give  up  the  International  list,  on 
aecoimt  of  the  valuable  lesson-helps  which  are  attached  to  it."  These 
lesson-helps  are  more  than  that.  They  are  not  merely  attached  to  the 
system,  they  have  grown  directly  out  of  it.  We  are  not  only  fast 
approaching  the  ideal  of  King  George  the  Third,  when  every  English- 
speaking  child  shall  be  taught  to  read  the  Bible,  but  when,  through 
lesson-helps,  scattered  everywhere,  almost  without  money  and  without 
price,  he  may  be  taught  to  understand  its  meaning  also. 

United  Bible  study  is  the  strongest  bond  of  Christian  imion. 
Christian  imion  cannot  be  brought  about  by  the  resolutions  of  popular 
assemblies.  Nor  can  it  be  entii-ely  assured  by  united  Christian  work. 
As  we  come  to  a  better  xinderstanding  of  the  great  charter  of  our 


122  The  International  Lesson  Fhcn. 

common  faitli,  om-  liearls  will  be  knit  togothor  and  our  eyes  will  see 
alike.  If  \Yo  two  ever  to  be  in  outward  appeavance  what  wo  kiiou-  wo 
are  in  heai-t,  "  One  in  Cbrist,"  it  must  come  tlirougli  the  study  of  (lio 
Bible.  Hail,  then,  O  glorious  day,  for  on  the  mountain  tops  we  already 
see  the  tokens  of  thy  coming. 

It  has  also  been  to  lis  a  delightful  thought  that  we  are,  to  some 
extent,  contributing  to  fraternity  among  the  nations.  Our  nuion  in 
Bible  study  has  proved  a  blessed  evangel  in  America.  Just  before  wo 
sat  down  with  the  same  Bible  page  open  before  lis,  we  Avere  looking 
defiantly  at  each  other  over  parapets,  and  were  doing  even  worse  than 
that  from  beliind  intrenchments. 

The  word  "International,"  in  the  title  of  our  lessons,  has  always 
made  the  title  somid  hke  music  in  our  ears.  The  union  of  Canada  and 
the  States,  in  the  preparation  and  use  of  the  lessons,  has  been  most 
delightfid.  It  has  di-awn  lis  into  fuller  sympathy  with  each  other's 
national  life.  Whatever  the  politicians  may  say  about  Canada's  want 
of  sympathy  with  the  home  government,  one  only  needs  to  hear  Cana- 
dians sing  the  National  Hymn  of  Britain  to  be  convinced  that  all  ideas 
of  their  disloyalty  are  a  delusion.  When  the  International  Sunday 
School  Convention  met  a  few  years  ago  in  Toronto,  it  stu-rcd  the 
patriotic  hearts  of  Americans  to  hear  Canadians  smg  it,  as  Canadians 
only  can.  But  the  culmination  of  enthusiasm  was  reached  when  the 
vast  throng  arose,  and,  as  with  one  voice,  Canadians  and  Americans 
joined  in  smguig^ 

"  God  save  the  Queen." 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  Britons  and  Americans  agreed  io  unite 
in  this  work  on  the  19th  of  April  .  .  .  the  anniversary  of  the  day 
when  the  fii-st  sanguinary  conflict  took  place  between  Americans  and 
Britons,  in  the  revolutionary  period.  A  vmited  study  of  the  Bible  shall 
be  the  token  and  the  pledge  of  a  peace,  which  shall  be  the  glory  of 
both.  And,  to  those  of  us  from  across  the  sea,  it  is  a  fact  of  no  httle 
significance  that  this  Convention,  for  consultation  about  the  study  of 
the  Word  of  God,  is  to  be  in  sesssion,  here  in  the  British  metropolis, 
on  the  4th  of  July,  the  anniversary  of  American  Independence.  Ke- 
membei-mg  the  scenes  through  which  the  fathei-s  passed,  how  joyfully 
may  we  smg  the  old  Song  of  Degrees,  as  we  come  up  to  this  ijlace  to- 
morrow mornmg,  "  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for 
brethren  to  dwell  together  in  imity." 

From  whatever  nation  we  come,  we  will  each  cling  with  undymg 
loyalty  to  the  flag  of  his  country,  but,  above  the  Union  Jack,  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  the  flags  of  all  other  nations,  we  wdl  still  keep  the 
ensign  of  Immanuel.  In  the  outset  Canada  and  the  States,  while 
hoping  to  win  other  nations  to  this  work,  hardly  dared  to  hope  for 
their  speedy  union  with  tis.  In  a  very  httle  while  England  joined  us, 
and  before  we  knew  it  we  found  ovu'  lessons  going  round  the  globe. 
Here  and  there  a  few  have  wearied  in  our  long  run  of  seven  years 


The  Lesson  Comniittee.  123 

tlu'oiijjU  tlio  Eihlc  Amid  the  imiUcriiigs  of  discontent,  Americans 
have  soniftinu's  queried  vhelliei'  our  brethren  of  Great  Britain  will  bo 
Icil  to  break  away  i'nnn  this  blessed  fellowship?  lint  to  what  -will  you 
go?  None  of  iis  claim  that  ouv  present  ])lan  is  perfect.  But  is  it  not 
Vivstly  better  than  any  wc  ever  had  before?  And  lias  any  better  plan 
vet  been  suggested  ?  Can  ■we  afford  to  give  up  what  we  have  gained  ? 
"Would  you  willingly  throw  back  our  Sunday  school  instruction  into 
the  chaotic  state  of  fivc-and-twenty  years  ago?  Sliall  we  not  rather 
join  all  the  wisdom,  all  the  piety,  and  all  the  patience  God  has  given 
lis,  for  the  better  development  of  a  system,  which,  with  all  its  imper- 
fections, is  one  of  the  glories  of  the  age  ?  Dwelling  in  whatever  lands 
we  may,  shall  we  not  continue  our  miited  elforts  to  fill  the  world  with 
a  knowledge  of  the  Word  of  God  ?  Elessed  is  om-  fellowship  as  we  sit 
here,  in  this  Christian  metropolis,  to-day.  But  this  is  only  a  fore- 
taste of  the  blessedness  yet  to  come,  when  the  redeemed,  each  having  a 
harp  and  golden  vials  full  of  odom-s,  shall  fall  down  before  the  Lamb , 
and  sing  a  new  song,  saymg,  "  Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book  and 
to  open  the  seals,"  for  "  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God 
by  thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  and 
nation ;  "  "  The  kingdom  of  the  world  is  become  the  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  of  his  Christ,  and  lie  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever." 
Respectfully  submitted  on  behalf  of  the  committee, 

Wareen  Eandolph, 
London,  Seoretarij, 

Juhj  3,  18S0. 

Prof.  G.  \Y.  Bingham  :  I  dcshe  to  offer  a  resolution  referring  to 
this  paper.  It  was  adopted  bj'  that  section  of  the  American  delegates 
to  which  I  belong,  which  includes  Canada  and  part  of  New  England ; 
and  some  of  the  members  of  that  division  have  requested  me  to  present 
it  here  : — That  we  recognize  in  the  International  Uniform  Lesson  move- 
ment, the  onward  march  of  real  progi-ess.  The  rare  fidehty,  judgment 
and  success  with  which  the  lesson  committee  are  performing  a  task 
of  great  difficidty,  give  occasion  for  profound  gratitude,  and  we  be- 
lieve that  the  same  plan,  with  such  modifications  as  experience  shall 
direct,  may  be  continued  with  gi'owing  acceptance  and  usefulness. 
We  are  glad  that  the  plan  embraces  the  study  of  the  whole  Bible, 
that  it  fixes  upon  the  happy  mean  of  seven  years  for  completing  the 
course,  and  that  experience  shows  it  to  be  adapted  to  all  ages  and 
classes.  Among  the  results  of  its  almost  imiversal  adoption  in 
America,  we  bring  testimony  to  the  following  : — 1.  Interest  in  Bible 
study  is  greatly  stimulated  among  yomig  and  old,  by  the  fact  that  so 
many  minds  and  hearts  are,  at  the  same  time,  occupied  with  the 
same  truths.  2.  It  has  called  out  the  etTorts  of  able  and  consecrated 
writers  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  until  our  lesson-help  literatiu-e  is 
marvellous  in  amoxmt  of  ricluiess.  3.  It  is  proving  a  powerful  instrii- 
mentality  for  promoting  unity  and  co-operation  among  Christians,  and 


124  Tlie  Tiilernaluntal  Lesson  Plan. 

^vc  believe  that  its  adoption  tliroiigliout  Christendom  will  bwng  untold 
good  to  the  world. 

E.i:v.  F.  II.  Marling-  (IMoutreal) :  I  have  a  resolution  to  somewhat 
tlie  same  effect,  adopted  by  a  full  meeting  of  the  Canadian  delegate;?, 
which  I  beg  to  submit  for  your  approval.  The  representatives  of 
Canadian  Sunday  schools  in  this  World's  Sunday  School  Convention 
beg  to  present  to  their  assembled  brethren  what  they  linow  to  be  the 
strong  and  imited  conviction  of  their  constitutcnts  tlu'oughout  the 
Dominion  in  relation  to  the  International  Uniform  Lessons.  The  test 
to  which  the  system  has  been  exposed  by  the  experience  of  neai-ly  a 
score  of  years  has  been  long  and  varied  enough  to  bring  forth  alike 
whatever  merits  or  defects  it  may  possess.  Our  positive  and  emphatic 
testimony  is  that  it  has  promoted,  to  an  \xnprecedented  degree,  the 
study  of  the  entu-e  Scriptures,  in  both  Testaments ;  has  called  forth 
an  miparalleled  wealth  of  learning,  skill,  and  devotion  in  the  unfolding 
and  enforcement  of  the  lessons  ;  has  proved  that  the  same  portions 
of  Scripture  can  be  used  for  the  oldest  and  the  youngest  scholars  ; 
has  opened  the  way  for  Christian  co-operation  in  a  most  practical 
intei'est  of  joint  concern,  and  has  rooted  the  Scriptures  more  deeply 
in  the  faith  and  love  of  God's  people.  While  holding  themselves 
open  to  the  minor  changes,  such  as  experience  may  suggest,  the 
delegates  from  Canada  woidd  thoroughly  deprecate  material  variation 
from  the  system  now  in  operation.  In  conclusion  they  tender  their 
most  respectful  and  hearty  thanks  to  the  Committee  of  Selection,  who 
have  so  ably,  skilfully,  and  faithfully  discharged  their  important  and 
laborious  task. 

On  behalf  of  the  delegation, 

Edwin  D.  King    1 

r.  H.  Maeling     I 

J.  H.  Geoege         )■    Committee, 

John  McKiiiicon  I 

S.  J.  Paesons        J 

Mr.  Belsey  proposed  that  the  resolution  he  referred  to  the  executive 
committee, 

Eev.  De.  John  Hall  :  Mr.  President,  there  is  one  personal  matter 
I  have  to  bring  before  this  audience ;  in  one  sense  it  is  personal,  in 
another  sense  it  is  pubhc.  Dr.  Warren  Randolph,  to  whose  report 
we  have  all  hstened  with  such  satisfaction,  has  rendered  special  and 
pecuhar  services  dnrmg  aU  these  many  years.  He  has  rendered  services 
in  our  meetings,  not  merely  by  the  intellectual  ability  and  the  Scriptural 
knowledge  that  he  possesses,  but  I  will  ventm-e  to  say  still  more  by 
the  gentleness  of  his  character,  by  the  sweetness  of  liis  disposition,  and 
by  the  atmosphere  of  brotherly  love  that  he  has  laboured  to  maintain 
among  us.  He  has  also  had  correspondence  which,  if  printed,  would 
make,  I  am  sure,  a  Tery  vohiminous  work,  and  he  has  done  all  this,  like 


The  Sdccliuii  (if  Lcx^OHH.  125 

the  rest  of  the  brethren,  witliout  money  and  without  pi-iee.  (Applause.) 
I  would  just  like  to  move,  and  this  is  a  motion  that  does  not  need  to 
be  submitted  to  the  Comrailtcc,  that  by  a  standing  vote  of  this  meeting 
■\ve  express  our  cordial  gratitude  to  Dr.  Randolph  for  the  splendid 
serviees  he  has  rendered  in  this  direction.     (Applause.) 

On  the  snggcstion  of  the  ))resident,  the  meeting  indicated  its  ap- 
proval of  the  resolution  by  rising  in  a  body. 

Dr.  Waeeen  R.vNDOLrn  -.  I  thank  you  heartily,  members  of  the 
Convention,  for  this  kind  and  luiexpected  expression.  I  assure  you 
that  the  work  in  this  Committee  has  been  among  the  most  delightful 
services  of  my  whole  life.  It  has  brought  me  into  some  of  the  sweetest 
fellowsliips  I  have  ever  known.  I  remember  that  that  eloquent  tongue 
■which  you  have  just  heard  xitteriug  these  unexpected  words  in  regard 
to  my  own  work,  referrmg,  in  one  of  our  International  Conventions 
held  in  the  States,  to  the  several  meetings  of  the  committee,  said  he 
never  expected  to  enjoy  sweeter  fellowship  on  earth  than  he  had 
enjoyed  with  the  brethren  engaged  in  this  work ;  and  what  he  then 
said  was  but  the  expression  at  that  time,  aud  after  these  ten  years  that 
liave  since  passed  is  but  the  expression  at  this  time,  of  m}'  own  heart. 

I  thank  yoii  for  the  expression  you  have  given  of  confidence  and 
appreciation.  I  am  sure  that  other  members  of  the  Committee  are 
entitled  to  the  same  as  well  as  myself.  No  member  of  the  varions 
committees  has  failed  to  elicit  the  warmest  affection  and  love  of  all. 
But  we  have  been  changed  from  time  to  time  ;  fotu-  of  us  only  remain 
of  the  original  body.  Olu'  brother  Jacobs,  who  is  so  fertile  in 
expressions,  I  remember  once  said,  "  We  are  reduced  now  to  a  quar- 
tette ;  "  and  we  are  all  here,  except  Bishop  Vincent,  whose  heart  I 
know  is  with  us,  and  I  would  to  God  he  were  here  in  person  to-day. 
I  am  dehghted  to  see  our  friend  Dr.  Gibson.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
fu'st  committee  ajjpointed  by  the  representatives  of  the  Canadian 
brethren.  We  found  iiim  one  in  sympathy,  one  in  heart,  one  in  action 
with  us  in  all  our  work  ;  aud  when  he  took  his  departure  from  the 
States  he  came  back  to  the  old  countiy  with  the  benedictions  of  us  all. 
Mr.  Jacobs  :  It  was  the  cruellest  blow  you  ever  struck  at  Chicago 
wlien  you  took  that  princely  man  and  delicious  servant  of  God  from  us, 
and  our  hearts  are  weary  for  him  to  come  back. 

THE  SELECTION  OF  LESSONS. 

Eev.  J.  MONEO  Gibson,  D.D.,  said  :  Mr.  Chaiiinan,  I  do  not  know 
what  to  say.  I  will  tell  you  what  I  was  going  to  say  before,  but  it  is  quite 
inadequate  to  the  occasion  no^v.  I  was  going  to  say  that  to  stand  here 
aud  listen  to  my  dear*  Dr.  Kandolph,  and  then  Dr.  Hall,  and  then 
Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs,  does  make  me  feel  home-sick.  And  it  did  give  me  a 
surprise  to  hear  that  twenty  years  have  passed — is  it  possible  that  it  is 
twenty  yeai's  since  wo  met  down  there  at  New  York  ?     ]\Ir.  Jacobs  has 


126  The  Intcrnalloiicd  Lesson  Plan. 

beeu  kind  ciiougli  to  refer  to  my  coming  back.  (Mr.  Jacobs  :  Tlicy 
intend  to  sit  down  on  your  coat-tails ! — langliter.)  The  fact  is  that  I 
am  so  exceedingly  busy  with  preparations  to  go  that  I  was  declining 
every  engagement,  bvit  when  I  was  asked  to  come  here  it  was  an  engage- 
ment I  coidd  not  dechne.     (Hear,  hear.) 

I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  not  come  up  to  time  on  this  occasion,  because 
the  Chah'man  has  refeiTed  to  my  "paper,"  and  I  have  none.  I  was 
gi^'en  the  option  of  preparing  a  paper  or  saymg  a  few  words,  and  the 
fact  of  the  matter  is,  I  am  so  specially  busy  just  now  that  I  thought 
I  would  choose  the  latter  alternative.  After  all,  it  would  have  been  a 
pity  to  have  followed  that  splendid  pa]per  of  Dr.  Randolph's  with 
another.  I  think  it  is  better  to  give  something  that  will  perhaps  be 
a  complete  contrast. 

I  suppose  that  our  object  is  to  review  the  Woi'k  that  has  beeu  done. 
I  am  siu-e  we  all  do  it  with  thankful  hearts  to  God  for  the  blessing 
which  has  attended  it,  for  the  great  success  that  has  marked  it ;  but 
also  with  the  intention  of  listening  to  any  criticisms  that  have  been 
made,  or  anything  said  that  might  at  all  guide  lis  with  regard  to  the 
futm-e.  because,  while  I  thoroughly  agree  with  the  resolution  which 
has  been  proposed,  yet  I  do  hope  that  the  hand  of  the  Committee  y^ill 
not  be  tied  up  too  much.  The  fact  of  the  matter,  brethren,  is  that 
yom*  Committee  is  such  a  splendid  Committee — I  can  say^that  fi-eely 
now  as  I  have  not  the  privilege  of  belonging  to  it — that  you  may  well 
trust  it  after  these  twenty  years. 

I  remember  when  questions  used  to  come  up  in  the  committee  they 
were  again  and  agam  set  down  as  questions  that  could  not  be  discussed, 
because  they  led  us  into  considerations  that  were  beyond  the  terms  of 
oiu'  appointment.  Now,  that  was  all  very  well  at  the  beginning,  but  I 
think  the  time  has  come  for  you  to  give  a  fi'eer  hand,  perhaps,  to  the 
committee  than  before,  m  order  that  they  may  be  in  a  position  to 
consider  any  suggestions  that  may  be  made  in  relation  to  the  work  of 
the  futiQ'e.  When  I  was  asked,  then,  to  speak  on  this  matter  of  the 
Selection  of  Lessons,  I  thought  the  best  way  in  wliich  I  might  render 
any  little  service  to  this  Convention  would  be — inasmiich  as  I  have 
been  hving  m  England  these  years — to  repeat  some  of  the  criticisms 
that  have  come  to  my  ear,  m  order  that  they  may  be  considered  for 
what  they  are  worth. 

I  would  like  to  say  m  the  fii'st  place,  in  my  remmisceuce  of  the 
meetings  of  the  Committee — I  would  like  to  asam-e  you,  though  you 
do  not  need  to  be  assiu-ed  of  it,  that  the  Committee  does  hard  and 
faithful  work.  It  is  not  that  the  members  simply  meet  together  and 
register  then*  approval  of  certain  selections  that  have  been  made  by  a 
certain  individual ;  each  member  of  the  Committee  works.  We  found 
that  every  one  had  his  own  opinions,  and  held  to  them  veiy  strongly, 
and  fought  for  them  very  hard  too,  but  generally  we  came  to  a  mi- 
animous  conclusion ;  and  I  tliink  there  is  a  lesson  to  be  learaed  by 
outsiders  in  regard  to  this  matter.     If  any  of  us  had  been  outsiders. 


The  Selection  of  Lessons.  127 

ami  had  not  heard  tho  wliolc  discussion,  mid  some  ol"  our  f'a\ouvitc 
passages  were  left  out  or  fa\ourite  ideas  were  omitted,  we  might  have 
been  inclined  to  take  up  the  position  of  critics ;  but  we  were  there  to 
liear  the  whole  discussion,  and  we  were  led  to  see  that  there  was  some- 
thing better  than  had  occurred  to  our  own  minds,  and  I  think  the  best 
M-a_v  of  silencing  or  reducing  criticism  would  be  to  get  the  critics  one  by 
one  on  the  Committee,  and  they  would  soon  begin  to  find  out  that  after 
all  there  were  some  ideas  better  than  their  owu. 

Of  coiu-se  we  do  not  consider,  as  has  been  already  said,  that  the  work 
is  perfect.  What  work  is  perfect  ?  It  is  easy  to  point  to  what  one 
may  call  mistakes.  I  thuik  it  was  the  late  American  minister, 
Mr.  Phelps,  predecessor  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  whom  we  are  all  so  delighted 
to  welcome  to  tliis  country,  who  made  this  remark — one  which  I  can 
never  forget.  He  said  "  The  man  that  does  not  make  mistakes  does  not 
usually  make  anything."  (Laughter.)  I  am  very  sure  that  that  is  just  as 
applicable  to  committees  as  to  men,  and  that  if  om*  Couamittee  has  made 
a  few  mistakes  it  has  "  made  "  a  great  deal.  It  is  very  easy  to  lay  yom* 
hand  on  one  thing  and  another,  and  say,  "  Perhaps  it  might  have  been 
better  done."  Well,  perhaps,  perhaps ;  at  all  events  they  have  done 
the  work  magiiificently  well,  and  I  think  the  least  thing  this  Convention 
could  do  would  be  to  pass  such  a  general  resolution  as  I  have  lieard 
read  this  afternoon,  only  I  hope  it  will  not  be  quite  so  tightly  drawn 
when  it  comes  to  its  final  form. 

I  shall  first  refer  to  some  remai'ks  that  I  have  no  sympathy  with  at 
all,  but  it  may  be  as  well  to  refer  to  them  as  they  are  made.  In  the 
first  place,  certain  people  even  at  this  day  do  not  see  any  particular 
use  in  a  uniform  lesson.  They  say,  "  You  are  sacrificmg  utility  to 
mere  sentiment."  Now,  in  the  first  place,  we  deny  that  we  are 
sacrificing  utility ;  we  contend  that  tliis  uniform  lesson  is  far,  far  better 
tlian  the  average  lesson  that  coidd  be  selected  either  by  Sunday  schools 
for  themselves  or  by  denommations  for  themselves — (hear,  hear) — so 
tliat  there  is  nothing  sacrificed,  but  a  gi-eat  deal  gamed.  Then,  as  to 
mere  sentiment — is  it  mere  sentiment  ?  I  do  tlunk  it  is  the  grandest 
thing  we  have  seen  as  a  manifestation  of  the  unity  of  the  church  in  our 
day.  We  rejoice  in  the  week  of  prayer  when  the  whole  world  is  seen 
to  be  boimd  with  gold  chauis  about  the  feet  of  God  for  one  week  ;  but 
is  r.ot  a  year  of  work  a  gi-eater  thing  than  a  week  of  prayer  ?  Wliat 
we  want  to  do  is  to  extend  this  more  widely.  I  do  think  it  has 
been  a  gi-eat  omission  in  the  progi-amme  of  the  Shah's  procession  that 
after  being  at  GuildliaU  he  did  not  come  round  here.  (Applause.) 
(Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  :  "  We'U  go  there.")  (Laughter.)  Tliat  is  precisely 
the  use  I  was  going  to  make  of  the  reference.  The  Shah  has  learned  a 
good  deal  in  these  eighteen  years  since  he  was  here ;  he  is  a  man  whose 
mind  and  eyes  are  open,  and  I  do  not  think  he  could  get  a  better  idea 
of  one  of  the  som-ces  of  the  gi-eatness  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  than  he 
would  find  repi-esented  in  this  hall ;  and  the  best  thing  he  can  do  for 
his  dominions  is  to  try  and  have  something  of  the  same  kind  there;  so 


128  TIlc  Internalioval  Lesson  Flan. 

I  hope  by-ancl-by  we  will  liave  the  Woi'lcVs  Convention  in  Telieraii. 
But  the  motion  will  be  "  referred  to  the  committee."     (Laughter.) 

The  next  thing  I  refer  to  is  the  complaint  I  have  heai'cl  made  of  these 
lessons  not  being  systematic.  Now,  I  suppose  the  ci-iticism  is  founded 
on  the  idea  that  we  should  go  along  the  lines  of  systematic  theology, 
and  along  the  lines  of  the  creeds.  But  I  think  it  is  far  better  to  take 
the  Divine  system — there  is  imquestionably  a  system — a  wonderful 
development  from  Genesis  to  Kevelatiou.  That  is  the  best  system  in 
the  world.  If  you  were  to  take  any  of  the  theological  systems,  you 
woi.ild,  in  the  first  place,  find  difficulty  in  gettmg  agreement ;  in  the 
second  place,  you  would  not  have  such  a  good  system  as  we  have  by 
foUowiag  the  development  of  truth  along  the  histoi'ical  lines,  as  we  have 
it  in  Grod's  revelation.  Then  I  have  heard,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  a  good 
many  teachers  charge  the  International  Lessons  with  wandering  about. 

1  have  always  been  amazed  to  hear  that,  but  I  have  known  persons  that 
were  not  altogether  stupid — I  emphasize  the  word  "altogether" — make 
that  objection.  The  only  ground  that  I  can  find  for  it  is  what  I  con- 
sider the  veiy  admirable  way  in  which  the  prophets  and  the  epistles 
were  brought  in.  Here  I  have  in  my  hand  a  sketch  of  the  International 
Lesson  for  1S91,  and  I  suppose  some  of  om-  friends,  turning  to  the  second 
page  of  this,  wotild  think  there  was  an  extraordinary  skipping  about. 
Tlie  first  lesson  is  in  2  Kings,  the  second  lesson  in  2  Kings,  the  tliii-d  in 
Jonah,  the  fom-th  in  Jonah,  two  in  Amos,  one  iu  Hosea,  then  back  to 

2  Kings.  "  What  did  you  skip  about  so  much  for  ? "  they  would  say. 
It  is  a  pity  that  we  have  not  a  lesson  committee  that  would  fm-nish 
not  only  lessons  but  brains.  (Laughter.)  But,  seeing  that  we  cannot 
have  that,  perhaps  a  little  note  might  be  put  in,  calling  attention  to  tlie 
fact  that  these  prophets  come  in  in  their  proper  places  in  the  history  ; 
that  when  you  come  to  the  reign  of  Jeroboam  II.  then  is  the  time 
to  bring  iu  Jonah,  because  it  was  m  the  reign  of  Jei'oboam  II.  that  lie 
prophesied.  How  exceedingly  valuable  it  is  for  our  yoimg  people  to  get 
that  pointed  out  to  them ;  they  might  live  to  be  as  old  as  the  critics 
I  have  been  speaking  of  and  never  find  it  out. 

Then,  the  most  grievous  objections  that  I  have  heard  made,  and  mo3t 
frequently  made,  have  been  against  the  series  of  lessons  in  the  Epistles, 
The  poor  Epistles  have  had  a  great  deal  of  obloquy  since  they  figured 
conspicuoiisly  in  one  quarter's  International  Lessons.  Now,  I  have  been 
very  much  disappointed  to  hear  these  criticisms ;  but  here  again  the 
qiiestion  is  whether — I  am  not  going  to  defend  leaving  out  the  Epistles 
by  any  means,  but  to  suggest  whether  there  might  not  be  care  taken  to 
guide  teachers  how  to  use  them — whether  instead  of  having  a  long  pas- 
sage, in  which  perhaps  there  is  a  great  deal  of  abstract  doctrine,  there 
was  a  very  short  passage  with  one  important  lesson  in  it,  and  appended 
to  that  some  illustrative  passage,  some  story  out  of  some  other  portion 
of  Scriptm-e,  that  would  elucidate  it. 

Of  course,  we  generally  suppose  tliat  our  teachers  will  have  sense 
enoi^gh  and  ability  enough  to  do  what  is  requii'ed,  just  as  when  they 


Tlic  Selcclldii  of  Lo-sMii-t.  129 

get  till?  story  and  have  to  taki-  the  tloctriiio  out  of  it,  so,  when  thej  faul 
tlie  doctrine  to  get  a  story  to  fit  it,  an  illustration  from  some  other  part  of 
Seripture.  But  it  inight  be  possible  to  ]>ut  down  an  illustration  in  the 
lessons  from  the  Ejustles  to  give  sueh  help.  And  yet,  after  all,  even  the 
most  abstraet  parts  of  tlu'  Epistles  ran  l)e  (realed  in  a  way  to  meet 
eiiildren. 

I  am  in  the  habit  every  Sunday  of  giving  a  short  address  to  young 
people— (hear,  hear) — and  in  general,  though  not  invariably,  my  rule  is 
to  give  it  in  connection  with  the  second  reading,  which  is  from  the  New 
Testament,  and  very  frequently  the  Epistles.  It  just  happened  last 
Sunday  that  I  read  sistli  of  Romans,  and  I  think  that  is  about  the  last 
chapter  that  an  International  Lesson  Committee  would  seek  a  lesson 
for  children  out  of ;  and  I  wondered  when  I  looked  at  that  passage 
whether  I  should  have  to  get  my  children's  test  somewhere  else.  But 
I  took  the  13th  verse,  which  is  to  this  efiect :  "  Neither  yield  yo  your 
members  as  instruments  of  imrighteousness  imto  sin  :  but  yield  your- 
selves unto  God,  as  those  that  are  alive  from  the  dead,  and  your 
members  as  instruments  of  righteousness  nnto  God,"  just  about  as 
tough  a  piece,  people  would  generally  suppose,  as  you  could  possibly 
select  for  children.  But,  after  all,  what  difficulty  is  tliei-e  about  it  ?  I 
thought  I  would  make  ifc  quite  plain  to  children  that  they  are  pidled 
there  between  two  forces,  sin  on  the  one  side,  God  on  the  other ;  and 
then  I  told  them  how  they  could  picture  sin,  what  a  face  he  has,  what 
a  colour  he  has,  what  a  spirit  he  has,  and  what  ruin  lie  is  di-agging  lis 
to  ;  then,  on  the  other  hand,  you  have  God,  God  in  Christ,  pulling  on 
the  other  side  ;  aiid  the  question  is,  which  will  ye  yield  yourselves  to  ? 
AVill  ye  yield  yourselves  to  the  sin-force  that  is  pulling  you  to  death 
and  destruction  ?  or  will  ye  yield  yourselves  to  the  Christ-force  that  is 
pulling  you  to  holiness  and  heaven  ? 

I  need  not  give  you  the  sermon;  you  can  see  perfectly  well  what  I 
mean.  I  do  think  in  lessons  from  the  Epistles  it  might  be  well  not  to 
cover  very  much  groiuid,  so  that  the  teachers  may  not  think  that  they 
liave  to  teach  a  great  deal  of  abstract  doctrine.  It  would  be  far  better 
to  take  one  main  truth,  and  make  it  clear  and  vivid,  and,  in  order  to  do 
so,  yon  must  illustrate  it  well ;  and  it  might  be  well  to  point  to  a  few 
illustrations  in  such  a  case  as  that  I  have  just  mentioned. 

There  are  certain  other  suggestions  that  I  will  de:d  with  together, 
because  the  time  is  running  away.  There  are  a  great  many  who  think 
the  seven  years  might  be  shortened  in  the  future ;  there  are  those  also 
who  think  that  the  scheme  might  be  made  a  compact  and  complete 
whole,  and  made  so  valuable  that  it  ought  to  be  preserved  and  per- 
petuated. Now,  I  do  think  there  is  something  in  this,  and  that  is  the 
reason  why  I  wish  you  to  leave  this  matter  open  for  the  committee  to 
consider.  Eemembcr  that  the  suggestion  of  a  change  of  plan  for  the 
f  utm"e  is  no  reflection  on  the  past.  It  does  not  follow  that,  because  yon 
have  had  the  best  plan  in  the  past,  therefore  it  is  the  best  plan  to  con- 
1  inue  for  ever.     Those  of  us  engaged  in  Christian  work  know  that  certain 

E. 


130  The  International  Lessun  Plan. 

tilings  inusfc  continue  always  the  same,  but  others  change  and  vary  in 
order  to  keep  iip  freshness  of  interest.    Remember — 

"  The  old  order  changeth,  yielding  place  to  new, 
And  God  fulfils  Himself  in  many  ways, 
Lest  one  good  custom  shouhl  corrupt  tlio  world." 

And  it  is  just  possible  that,  granting  wc  have  done  the  very  best  thing 
up  to  this  point,  there  may  be  a  still  better  thing  to  do  ;  and  indeed 
imless  you  do  something  of  that  sort  you  must  either  dismiss  your 
International  Committee,  or  you  nmst  pass  such  resolutions  as  wc 
have  been  delighted  to  pass,  and  let  them  thereafter  be  regarded  us 
merely  decorative.  If  they  have  done  their  work  so  well,  axid  have 
given  us  three  seven-year  courses,  how  are  they  to  improve  so  Tcry 
:nvieh  upon  it  in  the  futm-e  ?  If  the  first  seven  yeai's  was  so  good,  and 
the  second  so  good,  and  the  third  so  good,  wliy  not  take  the  first  to 
begin  the  twenty-second  year  with?  I  do  not  know  that  you  can  make 
it  so  very  much  better ;  the  work  has  been  very  carefully  done,  it  may 
be  you  should  just  go  over  the  same  road  again.  We  have  got  such  a 
splendid  committee — it  is  a  rare  thing  and  a  great  gift  of  God  that  so 
many  men  of  abihty  are  willing  to  give  so  much  time  and  thought  to 
this  matter — and  the  question  is  whether  they  might  not  devise  some 
plan  that  would  cover  a  shorter  period  of  years,  that  woidd  have  a 
completeness  that  the  others  have  not  had  in  this  way ;  whether, 
instead  of  simply  taking  all  the  best  passages  of  tlie  Bible  for  Simday 
school  lessons  as  we  go  tlu'ough  it,  we  were  to  set  ovirselves  to  have  a 
scheme  that  woiUd  embrace  all  the  main  things  that  cluldren  ought  to 
know  and  be  taught. 

I  do  not  mean  to  go  along  the  line  of  any  creed,  I  have  indicated 
that  ah-eady  ;  but,  starting  with  Genesis,  thei'e  is  the  great  fact  of 
Creation,  for  example,  and  then  there  is  tlie  Fall,  and  the  Promise,  and 
God's  Fatherly  care  of  the  pati-iarchs,  and  Abraham's  faith,  and  so  on — 
the  great  things  in  the  Eible,  rather  than  the  interesting  passages.  Up 
to  this  time  we  have  been  going  on  from  Genesis  to  Revelation,  taking 
the  more  interesting  and  useful  passages  ;  but  suppose  now  you  were  to 
take  the  great  spiritual  facts  and  truths  that  you  wish  to  lodge  in  the 
minds  of  the  chUdi-en,  and  let  it  be  a  coiu-se  that  woidd  be  Avithin  easy 
compass,  say,  for  example,  for  three  years. 

GRADED  LESSONS. 

And  along  with  that  the  question  arises  in  my  own  mind,  and  has 
arisen  in  other  minds,  whether  it  woidd  not  be  possible  to  have  some- 
tliing  more  of  gradation.  I  admit  what  Dr.  Randolph  said,  and  what 
Dr.  Hall  said  and  so  beautifully  illustrated  ;  I  have  no  sympathy  at  all 
with  those  who  say  the  same  passage  cannot  be  made  suitable  not  only  for 
the  children  and  the  middle  scholars  and  the  senior  scholars,  but  also 
for  the  Royal  Society  and  any  number  of  savants  that  you  choose  to 


Till'  Sclctlioii'  iif  Lessons.  131 

gather  togi'thor.  Still,  a(  tlio  sumo  time,  suppose  now  tluit  yon  hud  a 
series — it  is  not  iin.v  thought-out  phui,  I  mention  it  just  to  show  that 
there  is  room  for  consideration — suppose  you  liad  some  plan  that  had 
started,  saj,  with  the  great  fact  of  Creation,  you  could  have  that  lesson 
the  lesson  for  the  day,  in  all  the  classes  ;  but  you  could  have  it  in  the 
junior  classes  as  taught,  say,  in  a  portion  from  Genesis,  yon  could  have 
it  in  a  higher  class  as  brought  out  in  the  101th  Psalm,  and  so  forth, 
getting  at  different  points  of  view ;  and  when  they  came  again  to  the 
lesson  of  Crention  after  the  ftrst  year  they  would  be  older,  and  get  u 
higher  view  of  it  and  a  deeper  insight  into  its  meaning  and  bearings. 

There  is  a  great  deal  said  about  graded  lessons  in  this  country ;  it 
has  taken  a  very  strong  hold  on  our  Sunday  school  teachers.  I  wish 
you  to  know  that,  and  that  is  one  great  reason  why  there  has  been  a 
lessening  of  conlidence  in  the  International  Lesson.  I  know  quite  well 
that  there  are  great  objections  to  the  usual  sclieme  of  graded  lessons  ; 
it  is  said  that  if  you  have  three  grades  you  have  not  a  uniform  lesson 
but  you  have  your  schools  divided  into  three  parts,  the  jimiors  study- 
iiiT  one  part,  the  intermediate  studying  another,  and  the  seniors  study- 
ing a  thii-d  part,  and  it  triplicates  your  hterature,  and  when  any  one 
comes  to  addi-ess  the  school  he  does  not  know  which  of  the  tlu-ee  to 
take,  or  whether  it  should  be  a  jumble  of  all  the  three. 

These  are  very  serious  and  obvious  objections ;  but  the  question  is 
whether  the  advantage  of  graded  lessons  eoidd  not  be  gained  without 
that  great  disadvantage,  by  having  all  the  classes  studying  the  same 
great  thing.  But  they  might  be  studying  it  with  different  passages  of 
Scriptiu-e  attached  to  it,  and  then  the  literature  woidd  unfold  the  great 
subject,  and  it  would  be  of  use,  the  literature  that  was  provided  for  the 
senior  class  woidd  be  of  use  even  to  the  jmiior  teachers. 

The  fact  is  that  you  triplicate  your  literatm-e  in  a  certain  way  ah-eady. 

The  question  is  whether  we  coidd  not  have  a  uniform  lesson,  the  mii- 

formity  being  that  the  whole  school  was  studying  the  same  gi-eat  subject, 

though  not  necessarily  the  same  passage,  and  not  necessarily  in  the  same 

way.     If  the  Committee  would  make  up  a  system  of  this  kind,  going 

over  the  Bible  much  in  the  same  way  as  they  are  doing  now,  only  in 

shorter  time,  so  as  to  study  not  only  all  the  interesting  passages  but  all 

the  great  facts,  all  the  things  you  are  bound  to  teach  the  children,  that 

you  are  bound  to  get  into  then'  hearts  and  souls, — if  you  could  make 

such  a  plan  as  that,  I  believe  it  would  be  a  monument  of  the  Committee's 

ability  and  a  trophy  of  their  service;  that  it  would  be  of  use  not  for 

the  seven  years  merely,  nor  for   twenty-one  years  merely,  but  from 

generation  to   generation.      Now,   I   do   think  it   is   worth  while   to 

consider  this  suggestion   (hear,  hear)  ;  I  am  glad  to  hear  there  are 

some  persons  in  favoiu-  of  it.     I  put  it  before  you  in  an  exceedingly 

rough  way,  and  it  is  on  this  point  especially  that  I  am  so  sorry  that  I 

have  been  so  pressed  with  work  at  this  time.     I  woidd  have  hked  to 

write  somethuig  on  that  point,  but  all  I  can  ask  you  now  to  do  is  to 

consider  the  request  not  to  tie  the  Committee  up  for  seven  years  nor  to 

K  2 


132  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 

tlie  same  iiieiliod  tlicv  liavc  up  till  now  followed.  Do  give  lliem  a  free 
hand  and  let  tlieni  look  at  the  matter  in  the  largest  ■way,  and  I  believe 
if  they  have  done  ft  grand  work  already  they  will  do  a  grander  one  in 
the  years  <o  como,     (Applause.) 

PUBLISHED  LESS0N41ELrS. 

£1/  Mr,  Benjamik  Claeke  {Editor  of  '•  Sundat  School 
Cheonicle  '). 

I  do  not  pi'opose  to  enter  into  the  historical  question  as  to  the  early 
publication  of  lesson-helps.  I  assume  that  the  Sunday  School  Union 
Avere  the  first  to  publish  uniform  lists  of  lessons  in  ISlOj  and  were  led 
to  issue  in  J  anuary  1842  _ 

'notes    on    SCEIPTTirvE   LESSONS.' 

Let  me  here  say  what  a  debt  of  gratitude  Sunday  school  teachers 
owe  to  ministers  for  the  help  they  have  afl'orded  in  this  du-ection. 
Prom  the  earliest  days  imtil  now  there  have  not  been  wanting  a  suc- 
cession of  able  ministers  in  various  denominations  who  have  devoted 
themselves  to  the  providing  of  lesson-helps  for  teachers. 

There  is  a  feeling  among  some  laymen,  but  more  commonly  amongst 
ministers,  that  lesson-help  writing  is  a  very  simple  matter.  Like  the 
little  boy  who  had  so  mean  an  opinion  of  the  organism  of  the  oyster, 
refusing  to  class  it  among  the  things  God  had  made,  because,  as  he 
said,  he  thought,  "  most  anybody  could  make  a  hoyster  ;  "  so  there  is 
an  idea  among  many  ministers,  that  almost  any  preacher  can  write 
lesson-helps.  But,  nevertheless,  from  the  time  of  Matthew  Heury 
downwards  teachers  have  been  mainly  dependent,  for  their  helps,  on 
ministers. 

In  a  former  generation  Albert  Barnes  was  a  source  of  great  help  to 
teachers ;  he  was  one  of  the  first  who  seemed  to  have  the  needs  of 
teachers  on  his  mind  when  he  wrote.  Since  his  day  what  vast  strides 
the  commentators  have  made  ;  what  a  succession  of  able  men,  not  able 
merely  in  tlie  department  of  theology  and  of  expository  teaching,  but 
able  in  the  line  of  critical  scholarship,  who  have  given  us  all  the  latest 
residts  of  philology,  archaeology,  and  Biblical  interpretation  ! 

Yet  it  may  be  said,  that  these  scholars  for  the  most  part  have  had 
in  mind  the  pulpit  rather  than  the  class  in  then-  purposes  and  aims. 
"With  all  the  commentaries  that  exist  in  tliis  country  aud  in  America — 
Germany,  of  course,  goes  without  saying,  for  that  coimtry  has  not 
awakened' to  the  need  of  the  functions  and  offices  of  the  Sunday  school 
teacher — there  yet  remains  room  for  a  scholarly  and  critical  commen- 
tary, written  with  a  view  to  the  help  of  the  class  rather  than  of  the 
pulpit. 

We  have  some  instalments  in  this  du'ection  in  this  coimtiy. 
Dr.  Samuel  Green,  who  has  done  more  for  Sundav  school  teachers 


Puhlishcd  Lesson  HcIjjs.  133 

tliaii  almost  any  other  man  of  oui-  day — for  many  years  writing  the 
'  Notes  on  Scripture  Lessons,'  besides  other  works  of  a  Bibhcal  and 
educational  character — has  given  us  in  his  'Noics  for  Lessons  on  tlio 
Gospels' — a  Teacher's  Commentary  on  tlie'Gospels.  And  Rev. R.  Glover, 
in  liis  '  Teaclier's  Conuncntary  on  Mark,'  *  which  contains  his  lessons 
contributed  to  the  '  .Sunday  School  Ciu-onicle,'  with  cliapters  added  to 
cover  tlie  whole  Gospel,  has  given  us  another  instalment. 

Another  work  has  had  a  still  more  extended  and  useful  career — a 
commentary  remarkable  for  two  characteristics — tiie  first  as  being, 
contrary  to,  and  forming  almost  the  only  exception  to,  the  general  rule, 
that  these  works  have  come  from  ministers — this  one  is  from  the  pen  of 
a  layman — for  many  years  a  Sunday  school  teacher  and  superintendent 
— and  wi'itten,  therefore,  not  only  with  the  main  design  of  helping 
teachers,  but  from  an  intimate  knowled'^c  of  what  teachers  most 
require. 

The  second  cliuracicristic  is,  tliat  it  is  the  lirst  work,  I  believe,  in 
point  of  time,  in  point  of  importance  I  liave  no  manner  of  doubt,  con- 
tributed by  a  member  of  the  Ciiurch  of  England. 

It  is  an  altogether  renuirkable  and  inexphcable  fact,  that  the  Clnu-ch 
of  England,  with  its  army  of  divines,  scholars,  commentators,  has  done 
so  little  for  the  Sunday  school  teachers  of  its  communion.  It  is  mainly 
owing  to  the  influence  of  the  Church  of  England  Sunday  School  Insti- 
tute that  the  clergy  in  any  degree  have  been  led  to  provide  for  the 
needs  of  theii*  teachers  ;  and  yet  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  because  the 
Sunday  school  as  an  institution  has  taken  but  such  a  feeble  hold  of  the 
Church  of  England,  whose  ministers,  as  a  rule,  have  been  so  slow  to 
X'ealize  the  possibilities  and  the  influence  of  which  the  Sunday  school  is 
capable. 

The  work  for  teachers  that  I  have  thus  introduced  by  its  two 
prominent  characteristics  is  Mr.  Eugene  Stock's  '  Notes  on  the  Life  of 
Our  Lord.'  Its  success  has  been  phenomenal,  and  its  value  as  a 
litei'aiy  property  has  only  been  exceeded  by  its  usefulness. 

The  movement  which  above  all  others  has  tended  to  the  diffusion  of 
lesson-helps  has  undoubtedly  been 

THE   IJTTEBNAXIO.XAL  LESSOR"   STSiElI. 

It  has  brought  ministers  of  the  various  denomiuatioua  to  contribute 
lesson-helps  which  came  to  their  readers  with  all  the  prestige  and 
prejudice — in  its  original  sense — of  their  wi'itere'  names,  sometimes,  may 
1  say,  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  value  of  then-  notes  as  lesson-helps. 
I  could  name  those,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  who  have  been 
writing  notes  for  years,  for  what  special  reason  some  of  us  on  this  side 
have  failed  to  see  except  that  they  were  from  tlie  pens  of  eminent 
ministers. 

*  Glover's  '  Teacher's  Commentary  ou  Matthew  '  will  shortly  be 
published. — Ed. 


134  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 

With  lis  the  International  Lesson  System  has  led  to  the  publication 
of  notes  in  the  denominational  papers  ;  but  we  have  yet  to  see  our 
daily  secular  papers  giving  any  space  to  lesson  helps,  or,  indeed,  to  any 
matters  connected  with  the  Sunday  school. 

Our  "  dailies  "  are  too  much  impressed  with  the  idea  that  only  politics, 
crime,  and  gambling  have  any  interest  for  their  readers  to  devote  any 
space  to  religious  matters  generally;  and  the  Sunday  school  is  so  little 
imderstood  beyond  the  circle  of  its  immediate  adherents  and  workers  as 
to  be  a  factor  of  little  importance  in  the  eyes  of  the  average  newspaper 
reader. 

"We  have  not  yet  got  to  publishing  lesson-lielps  on  the  particular 
denominational  teaching  in  each  Sunday's  lesson — it  is  only  done,  so 
far  as  I  know,  in  one  important  publication  in  America — but  it  is  an 
example  I  trust  will  never  be  followed  here. 

There  is  so  little  time  for  teaching — the  sessions  arc  already  so  short 
and  so  crowded  with  engagements,  the  condition  of  oiu*  day  school 
education,  and  still  more  so  the  conditions  of  those  in  the  States  giving 
so  httle  opportunity  for  moral  and  religious  training — that  I  feel  very 
earnestly  that  the  Sunday  school  is  no  place  for  denommational  teach- 
ing, at  all  events  among  the  younger  scholars. 

OUR  WOEK  THE   BUILDIKG   TTP   OF   CHAllACTKE. 

Our  work  as  teachers  must  go  to  the  building  np  of  character,  cha- 
racter  founded  on  the  precepts  and  truths  of  the  Gospel,  illustrated  and 
enforced  by  Old  Testament  commands,  by  Old  Testament  biographies, 
by  Old  Testament  national  as  well  as  iuchvidual  history  ;  but,  above  all, 
character  moulded  and  shaped  by  the  perfect  example  of  om-  Divuie 
brother  and  pattern,  who  not  only  spake  as  never  man  spake,  but  who 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  lived  as  never  man  lived.  Let  it  be  the  aim 
and  purpose  of  those  who  will  to  bring  up  yoking  sectarians,  may  I  be 
more  than  ever  anxious  to  help  my  scholars  to  be  young  Christians, 
followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus. 

Let  me  not  be  misunderstood  as  running  a  tilt  against  catechisms, 
nor  as  clenoimcing  creeds  ;  let  me  be  understood  as  meaning  that  for 
younger  children  especially  we  be  most  anxious  to  make  them  Bible 
scholars,  and  never,  in  our  lesson  expositions,  as  note  writers  or  as 
teachers,  approach  our  subjects  with  denominational  spectacles,  or,  still 
Avorse,  with  the  lens  of  a  sectarian  microscope  to  discover  any  word  or 
sentence,  or  incident,  that  may  be  used  to  buttress  our  individual 
ecclesiastical  procli^'ities. 

Thei'e  seems  to  be  a  word  needed  as  to 

THE   USE  OF  HELPS  BY  TEACHERS. 

Some  ministers  are  afraid  less  these  should  supersede  the  studies  of 
tlie  Bible  itself.  These  good  men  are  themselves  habitually  users  of 
commentaries  and  works  of  BibUcal  interpretation  or  illustration,  and 


Puhlished  Lesson  Helps.  iSf) 

it  would  hardly  be  charitable  to  suppose  they  -vverc  raising  waniuig 
voices  iVoin  the  depths  of  tlicir  own  lamentable  experience.  A  caution, 
however,  need  be  urged,  ever  and  anon,  to  all  of  lis.  We  none  of  us 
read  and  study  the  Bible  sufTiciently  ;  but  tliis  is  not,  I  venture  to 
tliink,  from  the  abundance  of  lesson-helps,  as  from  multiplicity  of  en- 
gagements, or  from  some  other  reason.  My  experience  is  that  those 
who  most  use  the  Bible,  and  read  it  most  carefidly,  are  the  most  eager 
to  get  the  light  and  lielp  which  other  students  and  men  of  higher  powers 
and  greater  scholarship  are  able  to  afford. 

The  most  conscientious  teachers  certainly  deserve  all  the  help  that 
can  be  given  them  ;  and  the  least  conscientious,  or  the  least  cultured, 
or  the  least  leisured,  would  certainly  never  be  themselves  improved  by 
the  withdrawal  of  lesson-helps,  whilst  theii-  classes  would  be  certainly 
placed  at  a  disadvantage. 

After  a  somewhat  extensive  acquaintance  with  lesson-helps  published 
on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  I  am  bound  to  say  that  the  writers  have 
a  right  and  lofty  view  of  their  functions  ;  that  they  would  resent  the 
idea  of  tlieir  lessons  being  used  to  supersede  private  study  ;  and  that — 
and  this  is  the  important  matter — as  a  rule  they  are  not  capable  of  being 
so  used.  Take  any  lesson-helps,  and  I  challenge  any  reader  to  say  that 
they  were  intended  to  obviate  the  necessity  of  private  study,  or  that 
they  could  be  used  as  written. 

AVe  shall  presently  be  followed  by  one  whose  labom-s  have  been  well 
appreciated  in  his  own  country,  and  which  are  finding  increasing  favoiu" 
in  this  ;  and  it  is  one  of  the  many  advantages  that  have  accrued  from  the 
International  Lesson  .System  that  we  can  have  the  results  of  the  labours 
of  others  besides  writers  in  our  own  laud.  It  is  also  an  advantage  of 
our  more  enlightened  and  cosmopolitan  fiscal  policy  that  we  can  admit 
the  work  of  brain  and  hand,  wrought  in  other  comitries,  without  taxing 
our  people  for  the  privilege. 

EDUCATIONAL  LESSON  HELP  NEEDED. 

Speaking  uow  as  a  purveyor  of  many  years  of  lesson-helps  for  various 
classes  of  teachers,  I  may  say  my  gi'eater  difficulty  has  been  on  the 
direction  of  the  educational  side  rather  than  of  the  Bibhcal.  Commen- 
taries now  are  so  good  and  so  abundant,  and  note-wi-iters  of  intelligence 
know  well  how  to  set  before  theu-  readers  the  results  of  modern  scholar- 
ship and  research  ;  but  they  are  not  so  apt  in  showing  us  how  to  make 
the  best  use  of  the  materials  they  provide. 

They  give  us  much  more  assistance  in  tlie  "  what  "  to  teach  than  in 
the  "  how."  And  here  I  cannot  but  acknowledge  the  valued  services  of 
my  friend  and  colleague,  the  Kev.  Robert  Tuck,  B.  A.,  who  is  laying  the 
present  generation  of  teachers  under  great  obligations,  and  I  would 
indeed  that  he  had  been  chosen  to  introduce  this  topic.  We  have  been 
favoured  at  the  Sunday  School  Union,  with  the  help  of  many  lesson 
writers  who  have  rendered  admii-able  service.     We  have  the  '  Notes  of 


136  The  tntefnatiunal  Lesson  Plan. 

Scripture  Lessons,'  which  find  increasing  favour  in  spite  of  tlie  fact  that 
both  the  '  Sunday  School  Teacher  '  and  the  '  Sunday  School  Chronicle  ' 
cover  the  same  ground,  though  each  publication  preserves  its  own 
characteristics  in  the  lesson-helps  it  supplies.  But,  to  my  mind,  thei-e 
is  no  one  who  combines  a  keener  appreciation  of  what  the  teacher  needs 
in  the  material  to  be  provided  and  in  the  way  of  suggestion  and  hint 
as  to  how  he  should  use  that  material,  than  Mr.  Tuck. 

Of  course  we  are  acquainted  with  the  best  Sunday  school  paper  of 
America,  the  '  Sunday  School  Times,'  with  its  splendid  variety  of  helps 
supplied  by  the  foremost  scholars  of  various  lauds  and  of  different 
religious  communions,  and  edited  by  one  who  has  the  highest  ideal  of 
what  the  Sunday  school  may  and  should  accomplish.  Dr.  Clay  Trum- 
bidl,  by  his  supply  week  by  week  of  lesson  material,  is  doing  more  to 
promote  Eible  study  and  to  spread  light  on  the  Word  of  God  than, 
perhaps,  any  writer  or  preacher  in  America. 

Before  I  conclude  I  should  say  a  word  or  two  as  tu  the  supply  of 

lEoSON-HELPS  I'OE  SCH0LAE2. 

And  liel'e  we  in  England  have  sometliing  to  learn  from  America,  where 
scholars  are  to  a  much  larger  extent  supplied  with  their  leaflets  and 
quarterlies  than  witli  iis.  The  reason  is,  chiefly,  that  here  the  churches 
do  not  charge  themselves  with  any  responsibility  as  to  tlie  requirements 
of  the  Sunday  school.  Instead  of  asking  what  ai'e  the  rcquirementti 
of  this  department  of  the  church's  wol-k,  and  seemg  that  what  is 
needed  is  supphed,  the  churches  here,  are  as  a  rule,  sublimely  indif* 
ferent  as  to  the  condition  of  the  Sunday  acliool;  as  a  consequence  it  is 
often  a  continiial  struggle  to  meet  expenses  of  bare  existence,  and  for 
lack  of  funds  scholars  ai-e  unsupplied  with  lesson-helps.  In  America 
the  churches  are  more  alive  to  the  needs  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  thn 
scholars  are  supplied.  But  the  use  of  lessoii  helps  is  increasing  -with 
lis  ;  we  have  our  '  Pictorial  Lesson  Papers  '  for  the  junior  classes,  and 
our  'Advanced  Lesson  Papers '  for  oiu-  senior  classes  ;  and  the  Wesleyau 
Sunday  School  Union  also  issues  lesson  helps  for  jimior  and  senior 
scholars  ;  but  these  are  prepared  for  the  scholars'  home  study,  and,  as  a 
rule,  confined  to  that.  They  are  not  brought  with  them  into  the 
classes,  and  they  never  supersede  the  Bible  itself.  Dr.  Yincent  told  the 
assembly  at  Framhngham,  when  I  was  there  last  year,  tliat  he  had  been 
led  to  make  inquuy,  and  was  astonished  and  ashamed  to  find  to  how 
large  an  extent  the  lesson-helps  alone  were  used  in  classes,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  the  Bible.  "VVe  should  think  even  the  preparation  of  the 
lesson  purchased  at  too  dear  a  price  if  it  led  in  any  way  to  the  disuse  of 
the  Word  itself.  Nothmg  can  take  the  place  of  the  Eible,  and  we 
should  be  carefid  lest  we  do  anything  to  encoiirage  the  idea  ui  the 
muids,  especially  of  young  chilch'cn,  that  aiiglit  else  than  the  Bible 
itself  is  oiu'  text-book^  and  that  aught  else  should  be  brought  into  the 
classes. 


Pithlished  Lesson  HcIjjs.  137 

I  heard  of  a  prisoner  who  reeeived  from  the  chaphiiu  a  Bible,  wliieh 
he  seemed  to  use  frequently,  but  whieh,  when  his  sentence  was  expired, 
he  returned  to  the  chaplain,  as,  he  said,  he  should  now  have  no  further 
use  for  it. 

I  think  one  of  the  aims  we  must  all  set  before  ourselves  must  be  the 


GUEATEU   liXCOUKAGEJIENT   OF   TUE   HOME   STUDY 

of  the  lessons  by  our  scholars.  We  want  a  scholar  preparation  even 
more  than  a  teacher  preparation.  We  have  as  much  right  to  expect 
the  scholars  to  come  to  us  prepared  with  their  lessons  for  the  Sunday 
school  as  for  the  day  school ;  and  this  preparation  will  not  only  provide 
interest  beforehand,  insure  attention,  awaken  anxiety,  and  bring  the 
mind  of  the  scholar  into  a  receptive  condition,  but  it  will  clear  the 
ground  of  much  subsidiary  work — the  biograpliical,  liistorical,  and 
other  matters  which  may  be  designated  as  the  lesson  surroundings — 
leaving  the  teacher  free,  and  aflbrding  hhn  the  time  for  the  enforcement 
of  the  spiritual  truths  of  the  lesson,  and  for  making  its  application, 
which,  in  the  shortness  of  the  session  or  in  the  time  spent  in  explanatory 
or  expository  processes,  arc  apt  to  be  imperfectly  done — often,  indeed, 
they  are  never  reached. 

Teachers  need  not  be  tied  to  any  lesson  help,  in  order  to  be  faithful 
to  International  Lessons.  There  is  no  desire  to  dictate  either  as  to  the 
lessons  to  be  studied  or  the  helps  to  be  used.  We  would  say  with  the 
Apostle,  "  Not  that  we  have  dominion  over  yom-  faith,  but  are  helpei'S 
of  your  joy." 

The  heartfelt  desire  and  earnest  purpose  of  all  faithful  Sunday  school 
workers,  -whether  superintendents,  officers,  teachers,  note  writers,  or 
editors,  may  be  well  expressed  in  the  Apostle  John's  words  to  Gains, 
"  That  we  might  be  fellow  helpers  to  the  truth." 


THE   PUBLISHED   LES30K   HELPS   OF   AMERICA. 
Bt/  Kea".  F.  N.  P£L0UBET)  D.D.  {Natick,  Mass.,  U.  S,  A.). 

I  wish  to  make  a  little  prelude,  because  I  am  sm-e  that  wc  Americans 
will  not  understand  the  circumstances  unless  I  do.  I  came  here  a  great 
deal  fiimiliar  with  the  '  Teacher's  Lesson  Help '  by  Clark,  Green,  and 
Stock,  and  the  '  Sunday  School  Chronicle,'  and  others ;  but  I  have 
come  to  be  absolutely  amazed  at  my  own  ignorance  of  the  practical 
Sunday  school  work  here  in  England.  We  have  a  Congressman  who 
said  that  he  knew  he  had  a  great  mind,  because  it  took  him  such  a  long 
time  to  make  it  up.  I  am  having  a  httle  hope  of  my  own  mind, 
because  it  is  capable  of  so  much  ignorance. 

The  'Teacher's  Lesson  Helps'  are  very  much  alike  in  the  two 
countries,  but  the  moment  we  come  to  the  Scholar's  Helps  there  is  a 


138  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 

marvellous  cliffei'cnce.  For  instraiec,  I  have  been  round  spending  my 
time  at  several  publishing  houses  to  find  out  what  they  are  doing  for 
the  children,  and  the  largest  and  best  '  Lesson  Help  '  is  that  published 
at  56,  Old  Bailey. 

Then  I  took  this  '  Baptist  Quarterly,'  and  here  is  a  spechnen  of  our 
advanced  'Lesson  Helps.'  In  America,  the  motto  of  every  Sunday 
school  man  is  this :  "  All  the  church  in  the  Sunday  school,  all  the 
Sunday  school  in  the  church,  and  everybody  in  both."  That  is  written 
all  over  the  United  States.  (Applause.)  With  us,  every  school  almost 
uses  -with  one  accord  the  International  System,  and  it  makes  a  vast 
range  and  degree  in  the  quality  of  the  helps  necessary  for  the  scholars. 
These  helps  are  prepared  for  the  scholars,  not  merely  for  the  teachers, 
more  than  they  are  here. 

We  consider  a  good  teacher  one  who  mates  his  scholars  study  at 
home,  and  there  is  a  kind  of  teaching  and  of  questioning,  and  of 
planning  in  all  our  best  lesson  helps — for  the  childreu  I  mean,  and 
the  members  of  the  Sunday  school — in  order  to  set  them  at  work  at 
home.  We  do  not  consider  a  man  a  good  teacher  till  he  can  make  his 
scholars  study  at  home,  so  that,  while  we  have  only  one  session  on  the 
Sunday  where  you  have  two,  we  have  another  session  in  the  home ; 
and  father  and  mother,  and  brothers  and  sisters,  from  the  oldest  to 
the  veiy  baby,  are  expected,  every  one  of  them,  to  have  a  home  Sunday 
school  on  the  lesson,  and  then  come  to  the  Sunday  school  fuU  of  fii'e 
and  interest  in  theu'  work. 

The  Star  of  Bethlehem  for  Temperance,  it  has  been  said;  stands  over 
the  school-house. 

The  Star  of  Betlilehem  for  the  cluu'ch  to-day  stands  over  the  Smiday 
school.  And  one  of  the  brightest  rays  of  ho]3e  shming  from  that  star, 
and  directing  the  people  to  the  Christ,  is  found  in  the  number  and 
quality  of  the  helps  for  the  training  of  the  teachers  and  scholars  of  our 
Sunday  schools. 

The  Published  Lesson  Helps  of  America  are  a  mighty  army  move 
than  10,000,000  strong,  counting  aU  the  helps  of  one  scholar  tlu-ough 
the  whole  year  as  but  one  soldier,  as  we  do  thi'oughout  this  paper.  If 
we  count  each  leaflet,  the  niimbera  then  would  equal  the  485,000,000 
of  people  in  the  whole  British  Emph-e,  colonies  and  all. 

I  will  not  trouble  you  with  detailed  statistics,  for  if  there  is  any 
modern  representative  of  Ezekiel's  valley  of  diy  bones — very  di-y — it  is 
supposed  to  be  found  in  that  region  where  statistics  are  collected  and 
read  by  Sh-  Walter  Scott's  Eev.  Dr.  Dry-as-dust,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  and 
laid  up  in  that  alcove  of  the  library  marked,  as  our  late  mmister  to 
England,  Prof.  Lowell,  suggests,  "  Literatm-e  suited  to  desolate 
islands." 

But  figures  sometimes  are  an  inspu-atiou  and  an  enthusiasm.  It  is 
enough  to  say  that  of  the  two  great  divisions  into  which  the  army  of 
lesson  helps  is  divided — (1)  those  for  teachers,  and  (2)  those  for 
scholars — there  are  in  the  United  States  of  America  at  least  two  lesson 


PuhUsJted  Lesson  Helps.  139 

helihi  for  each  one  of  the  1,1CX),000  teachers,  and  at  least  one  for  each 
of  their  8,500,000  scholars* 

Each  of  the  divisions  of  the  lesson  help  iirniy  is  cUvideil  into  three 
corps. 

1.   THOSE    I'UBLISriKD   BV    THK    DKNOITINATIONAL    I'UBLISniNG 
nOUSKS. 

ITor,  with  the  cxccptiou  of  the  llonian  Cathohcs  who  teach  chiefly 
theu"  Church  Catechism,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  with  whose  Church  year  the  International  System  seems 
somewhat  out  of  harmony,  and  the  Unitarians  whose  larger  schools  are 
closed  during  the  summer,  the  International  Lessons  are  almost  imi- 
versally  adopted.  All  the  leading  denominations,  and  most  of  the 
smaller  ones,  have  their  own  publishing  houses,  which  pubhsh  helps  for 
those  under  then*  care.  And  it  is  noteworthy  that  in  many  of  them 
the  sales  of  their  own  lesson  helps  (the  series  for  the  whole  year  count- 
ing one)  equal  or  exceed  the  numbers  in  then-  Sunday  schools. 

For  example : — 


Baptists. 
Scholars     1,15S,6G5 
Helps  1,290,000 


Meth.  Epis. 
Scholars  2,08(3,000 
Helps        2,llS,000t 


Congregatioii:ih 
Scholars  551,091 
Helps  475,000 


BcsiJcs  these,  many  use  the  UQdenominational  helps. 

2.   THOSE    I'UBLISIIEK     Bl     I'EIVATE     PUBLlbUIXG    HOUSES     AXD    UN- 
DEXOMINATIONAI-   SOCIETIES    LIKE    XOUR    SUNDAY   SCHOOL   UNION, 

to  meet  that  difference  of  judgment  which  is  breathed  in  with  our 
native  ah,  and  to  give  that  completeness  to  the  teacliing  which  comes 
from  viewing  the  truth  from  different  stand-points.  These  helps  do 
not  interfere  with  the  denominational  differences,  for  ninety-nine  one- 
hundredths  of  the  great  truths  of  salvation  as  taught  to  children  arc 
the  same  for  all ;  we  are 

"  Many  as  the  waves,  but  one  as  the  sea." 

Epictetiis  says  that  sheep  cat  grass,  but  it  is  wool  that  grows  on  their 
backs.  The  sheep  of  each  denomination  pasture  where  they  will,  but  it 
is  their  owni  kind  that  are  nourished.     "  "WTiatever  Uon  eats  is  lion." 

But  the  number,  character,  and  success  of  these  private  and  unde- 
nominational enterprises  are  one  sign  of  the  extent  and  power  of  the 
hold  the  International  System  has  upon  the  nation. 

*  Appointment  too  late  to  obtain  Canada  statistics, 
t  Besides  more  or  less  of  helps  on  the  lessons,  in  the  children's  papers, 
making  11,000,000  more. 


14:0  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 


3.    THOSE    rUBLISnED    IN    THE    WEEKLY   EELIGIOUS   NEWSPAPERS. 

I'or  another  fact  which  writes  "  in  letters  that  can  be  read  fi-om  the 
stai's  "  tlie  wide  extended  influence  of  the  International  System  upon 
the  religious  world  of  America  is  that  an  overwhelming  majority  of 
the  evangelical  religious  newspapers  with  an  annual  circulation  of 
2,479,000,*  more  than  the  sum  total  of  all  the  Sunday  school  teachers, 
publish  notes  on  the  lessons.  Besides  these,  not  a  few  of  the  local 
secular  papers  and  numberless  commentaries  and  aids  of  various  kinds, 
and  in  varied  degrees,  march  in  the  Sunday  school  procession,  and 
take  part  in  its  great  hallelujali  chorus. 

Daily  papers  report  our  Conventions,  some  of  them  usually  more  fully 
than  religious  papers  can. 

Mere  numbers  are  of  small  account.  Eut  they  expi'ess  something  of 
the  general,  the  deep,  the  pexwading  and  growing  interest  there  is  in 
Bible  study  and  in  the  Sunday  school,  where  one-sixth  of  the  whole 
population  of  the  country  belongs  to  the  Sunday  school, t  and  there  are 
more  than  enough  Bibles,  and  Bible  helps  to  go  aroirad. 

When  Columbus  first  saw  the  Orinoco  River,  some  one  said  that  lie 
had  discovered  an  island.  He  repUed  :  "  No  such  river  as  that  flows 
from  an  island.  That  mighty  torrent  must  drain  the  waters  of  a  con- 
tinent." These  floods  of  lesson  helps  prove  that  there  is  a  continent  of 
Bible  study  and  Sunday  school  interest  behind  them. 

A  few  drops  arc  nothing,  but  enough  of  them  make  Niagara,  and 
that  is  something.  A  few  houses  are  nothmg,  but  enough  of  them,  and 
good  enough,  make  London,  and  that  is  the  capital  of  the  -world  ;  or, 
rather,  as  some  one  has  well  said,  "  Not  Washington,  but  ideas,  are  the 
capital  of  the  United  States,"  so  not  London,  but  ideas — ideas  centermg 
in  London — are  the  capital  of  the  British  Empire.  And  the  number 
of  lesson  helps  shows  something  of  the  force,  the  momentum,  of  the 
ideas  which  being  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  are  going  forth 
to  conquer  the  world. 

Again,  the  Lesson  Helps  need  to  be  weighed  as  well  as  counted,  in 
order  to  ascertain  their  real  power.  The  progress  and  improvement 
in  their  quality  has  been  quite  as  marked  as  their  nmnbers.  As  in  all 
■widely  extended  progress  in  other  directions,  there  have  been  individual 
helps  in  fonner  times,  as  good,  perhaps,  as  the  best  we  see  to-day. 
Scarcely  anything  absolutely  new  has  been  developed,  or  with  which 
some  of  our  fathers  were  not  acquainted.  We  are,  as  your  poet  Laureate 
says,  the  "  heir  of  all  the  ages."  The  progress  is  in  adding  together  the 
scattered  good  things,  and  fijiding  that  two  and  two  are  more  than  four  ; 
that  from  Ossa  upon  Pehon  we  have  a  many  times  wider  vision  than 
from  the  two  moiintains  apart ;  that  coudeusiag  the  scattered  rays  into 
a  focus  gives  new  power  to  the  light. 

*  From  Evans' '  Standard  List  of  Evangelical  Newspapers,'  Boston,  1889. 
t  Add  the  Catholics  and  non-Evangelicals  to  Mr.  Porter's  Statistics. 


Vnhlislird  Lr.tsuii  Jlrlps.  141 

Tlic  progress  also  is  in  muliiug  goiiiTul,  iiliuost  universal,  what  before 
was  coiiliued  to  a  few.  Individual  lulls  may  have  been  as  liigli,  but 
wow  tlip  wide  continent  is  being  raised  up  to  their  elevation. 

The  Lesson  Helps  arc  far  frorn  what  they  ought  to  be,  and  what  fliey 
T>il]  be. 

"  He  who  sny.s  I   v.-nnt  no  more, 
Confesses  ho  has  none." 

"  We  have  not  already  obtained,  nor  are  already  made  perfect,  but 
we  press  on,  if  so  be  that  we  may  a]iprehend  that  for  which  also  wo 
were  apprehended  by  Christ  Jesus.  iJrcthren,  we  count  not  ourselves 
to  have  apprehended ;  but  one  thing  we  do,  forgetting  tho  things  which 
are  behind,  and  stretching  forward  to  the  things  which  are  before,  we 
press  on  toward  the  goal  unto  tiie  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

Certain  it  is  that  tlie  International  System  has  worked  marvels  in  the 
line  of  Sabbath  school  helps.  The  vast  extent  of  tl.eir  circulation,  the 
sharp  competition,  the  mutual  suggestions,  have  made  the  progress  in 
them  equal  to  that  of  other  departments  of  civihzation. 

In  beauty  of  workmanship,  in  quality  of  paper  and  type,  in  attractive- 
ness of  colour  and  form,  in  the  appositeness  of  illustration,  the  Sunday 
school  litei'ature  compares  well  with  the  secular  school  literature  of  the 
game  grades ;  while  almost  everything  is  also  given  in  the  cheapest 
possible  form  for  those  luiable  to  piu-chase  the  better.* 

There  has  been  a  very  marked  era  of  progress  in  the  average  scholar- 
ship of  the  Lesson  Helps,  especially  for  teachers.  They  draw  from 
every  country  and  from  every  source.  They  more  than  welcome  all  the 
light  that  science  and  exploration  can  give.  The  works  of  God's  hands 
illustrate  the  "Word  God  speaks.  From  the  tombs  of  the  Pharaohs, 
from  the  stone  libraries  of  Assyria,  from  researches  in  Palestine,  from 
the  treasures  of  natural  science,  comes  light  upon  the  Word  gathered 
up  for  the  Sunday  school.  Sunday  school  helps  are  not  like  the  Kile 
that  flows  2000  miles  without  a  tributary,  but  like  the  Amazon  which 
drains  a  continent  for  its  supplies, — 

"  Rich  in  experience  that  angels  might  covet, 
Eicli  in  a  faith  that  has  grown  witli  the  years." 

It  is  true  that  only  the  results,  and  not  the  discussions  appear.  There 
is  no  time  and  no  place  in  the  Sunday  school,  even  in  the  Bible  class, 

*  The  Quarterlies  vary  from  12  to  25  cents  a  year,  but  the  Lesson 
Leaves,  printed  from  the  same  plates,  can  be  had  at  from  5  to  8  cents  a 
year.  Teachers'  Helps  vary  from  25  cents  a  year  to  $2.  The  'Sunday 
School  Times'  is  $2,  simple  subscriptions;  $1  in  clubs.  Hurlbut's 
'  Lesson  Commentary,'  and  Peloubet's  'Select  Notes,'  retail,  at  125  cents, 
but  schools  can  usually  obtain  them  for  90  cents  or  $1.  The  'Baptist, 
Teacher,'  and  the  other  denominational  Monthlies  for  teachers  average 
about  50  cents. 


142  The  International  Lesson  Flan. 

for  disputed  points  and  unsettled  questions.  Tbcy  arc  in  tlic  way  o 
the  teaclier  in  his  preparation  for  his  class.  Natural  science  and  the 
hiirher  criticism  have  a  great  work  to  do,  but  their  processes  and  their 
questionings  do  not  belong  to  Sunday  school.  We  want  only  certainties 
there  "  on  the  Keck  of  Ages  founded,"  that  nothing  can  shake,  more 
than  the  waves  of  the  Atlantic  can  shake  England  from  her  foundations. 
Like  the  Theban  Cadmus  when  the  giants  sprung  from  the  dragon's 
teeth  were  contending  together,  so  the  maker  of  the  Lesson  Help  looks 
upon  the  mighty  giants  contending  for  very  existence  \ipou  the  battle 
grounds  of  the  liigher  criticism  and  of  the  scientific  questions  of  the 
day,  and  lets  them  fight  it  out  among  themselves  and  slay  one  another, 
and  then,  when  some  tall  giant  has  gained  the  victory  of  assured  truth, 
him  he  compels  to  bring  the  stones  for  bmlding  the  beautiful  city  of 
God. 

Sunday  schools  for  this  are  called  "  behind  the  age."  Very  well,  wc 
accept  it ;  they  are  behind  the  age,  as  the  wmd  is  behind  the  shij), — it 
makes  it  go.  It  is  behind  the  age  as  the  smr  is  beluud  the  morning,— 
it  brings  the  dawn. 

Again,  the  Lesson  Helps  fulfil  a  mission  in  connection  with  the  Inter- 
national System  which  is  often  ovei-looked  by  the  ei-itics.  They  supply 
a  remedy  for  certain  defects  Avhich  seem  to  inhere  almost  in  its  very 
uatm-e. 

The  discord  with  the  church  year  may  be  turned  into  harmony  by  ft 
carefid  arrangement  of  the  helps.  Tliis  has  been  done  to  some  extent, 
but  the  few  measures  may  easily  grow  into  an  antherUj  and  all  tho 
htiu-gical  chm-ches  may  join  in  the  chorus. 

Another  difEcidty  is  thus  expressed  by  a  critic. 

"  The  distinctions  of  age  and  capacity  in  the  scholars  are  not  recog- 
nized  in  the  present  system. 

The  same  lesson  is  intended  for  infant,  youth,  and  adult.  This  does 
violence  to  the  law  of  natm-al  progress  and  development.  Paid  wisely 
gave  some  milk,  and  others  meat ;  but  we  feed  all  aUke,  and  hope  to 
strike  an  average." 

"  We  would  not  countenance  this  method  of  the  same  lesson  for  all 
the  grades  of  scholars  in  our  public  schools.  We  may  take  the  system 
in  vot^ue  in  our  common  schools  as  the  most  practical  and  successful, 
There  we  find  graduation  of  study  to  the  capacity  of  the  scholar.  A 
system  of  gradual  advance." 

The  trouble  with  this  critic  is,  that  he  has  "an  acute  attack  of 
inadequate  mformation."  He  forgets  that  there  are  tMO  methods  of 
grading  lessons,  each  with  its  own  peculiar  advantages. 

THE   INTERNATIONAL  SYSTEM   IS   NOT   ONE   OF   GRADED  LESSON 
TEXTS,   BUT   OF   GRADED    HELPS, — 

Not  of  selecting  from  the  Sci'iptures  those  portions  which  are  adapted 
to  each  grade  of  scholars,  but  of  selecting  from  the  same  portions 


ruUinlicd  Lesson  Helps.  143 

those  truths  mid  a.«pcfts  of  triiili   uhidi  arc  ndaptctl  to  tlio  various 
grade*. 

As  ill  God's  works  \\c  llud  in  ever}'  part  soiiu'thing  adapted  to  the 
cliild,  and  to  the  unlearned  in  their  lore,  something  for  the  older  and 
more  edueated,  and  some  things  also  so  mysterious  and  far-rcaehing  that 
even  a  Tjndall  or  a  Ilusley,  or  a  Drummond  stand  but  upon  the  shore 
of  its  hmitlcss  sea  ;  so  in  every  portion  of  God's  Word,  in  every  great 
t ruth,  in  every  doctrine  of  salvation,  there  are  things  the  little  child 
can  know  and  use,  and  feed  upon,  and  things  of  which  the  oldest  and 
most  learned  cannot  fathom  the  meaning  and  tlic  power. 

Not  the  International  Committee,  but  the  published  lesson  helps 
make  the  adaptation. 

The  new  beatitude  of  science,  "  Blessed  are  the  fit,  for  they  shall 
inherit  the  earth,"  is  true  of  lesson  helps,  and  they  are  inheriting  the 
earth,  because  their  grading  is  almost  as  complete,  and  largely  of  tlie 
same  kind,  as  the  grading  of  our  books  for  the  secular  schools.  There 
are  almost  universally  from  three  to  six  grades  of  helps  prepared  for  the 
scholars,  besides  the  teacher's  helps  which  are  frequently  used  by 
the  adult  scholars.  From  these  they  range  down  to  the  charming 
little  coloured  cards  with  pictures  and  questions  about  the  lesson  for 
the  little  ones  that  cannot  read  for  themselves. 

The  helps  for  teachers,  too,  are  widely  gi-aded.  There  are  papers 
devoted  to  the  superintendent.  There  are  learned  articles  from  the 
greatest  English,  rreneh,  and  German  biblical  scholars,  and  mono- 
graphs from  leading  Americans,  there  are  simpler  helps  for  the  busy 
and  the  less  educated.  There  are  helps  of  great  variety  for  the  primary 
teachers,  showing  the  best  methods  of  teacliing  each  lesson.  There  arc 
coloured  pictm-es  *  large  enough  to  be  seen  by  the  whole  primaiy 
school,  with  reduced  copies  that  the  childi-en  can  carry  home  in  their 
pockets.  There  are  helps  for  the  normal  training  of  teachers,  and 
various  summaries  of  Scripture  history  and  doctrine  to  be  used  as 
supplemental  lessons.  It  is  in  these  latter  du-ections  that  in  the  near 
future  there  is  to  be  a  new  development  and  impetus  in  Sabbath  school 
progress  iii  America.  Here  we  sit  at  yom*  feet.  This  more  complete 
gradmg  has  been  both  a  consequence  of,  and  a  means  to,  that  larger 
inflow  into  the  Sunday  school  of  adult  Christians  (often  one-thii'd  are 
ndults  and  more  than  one^half  are  Christians)  and  the  tendency  for  it 
to  grow  fi'om  a  children's  Sunday  school,  to  a  Bible  school  for  all. 

The  lesson  helps  have  another  niissiou  iu  connection  with  the  Inter- 
national System — 

TO   PEOMOTE   COKTIXUITY   AND   U>'ITV. 

One  of  the  most  frequent  objections  brouglit  against  the  system  is 
thus  voiced  by  one  writer. 

*  Providence  Lithographic  Co.,  who  furnish  them  to  various  denomina- 
tional publishing  houses,  with  denominational  covers  and  imprints. 


3  44  Tlio  Lilernaliamd  Lesson  Plan. 

"The  successive  lessons  lack  continuity  of  purpose  or  thought." 
"  There  is  neither  historical  nor  doctrinal  unity  or  progression."  "The 
objection  is  not  against  the  value  of  these  topics,  but  against  the 
irregular,  irrational,  and  seemingly  haphazard  mctliod  in  which  tliey 
follow  each  other.  The  laws  of  association,  so  necessary  for  reproduc- 
tion, are  ignored."  This  is  another  "  attack  of  inadequate  informa- 
tion." Partly  the  charge  is  a  mistaken  one  ;  for  the  lessons  are  selected 
points  in  a  line  of  natural  historical  sequence,  a  more  unbroken  line 
than  that  followed  in  the  arrangement  of  books  in  our  Bibles.  Partly, 
the  criticism  arises  from  the  necessary  imperfection  of  all  systems, 
-which  is  yet  less  prominent  in  this  than  in  any  other  that  lias  yet  pre- 
vailed iu  America.  For  to  traverse  every  pouit  in  Bible  history,  from 
the  Garden  of  Eden  in  Genesis  to  the  city  descending  out  of  heaven  in 
the  Eevelation,  woidd  be  possible  only  in  an  antediluvian  Sunday 
school,  with  young  Methuselahs  for  pupils. 

The  same  objection  lies  against  our  railway  system  of  travel  in  which 
we  pass  swiftly  over  large  spaces  of  country,  with  only  an  occasional 
stop  here  and  there  to  study  more  fully  the  place  and  the  people.  It 
is  superficial,  of  coui'se.  It  is  not  a  good  way  for  a  geologist,  but  it  is 
the  only  possible  way  for  most  people,  who  must  either  study  a  small 
section  thoi-ouglily  or  the  best  points  of  a  broad  land.  And  this  latter 
method  is  so  much  better  for  most  people,  that  even  your  greatly 
admired  and  fascinating  Mr.  Huskin  can  as  easily  "  dam  the  Nile  with 
buh-ushes"  as  bring  the  lofty  genie  of  modern  railway  travel  again 
within  its  little  narrow  box  of  tlie  old  stage  coach,  delightful  as  that  is 
for  some  to-day. 

Now  the  lesson  helps  of  the  better  class  (and  that  includes  the  larger 
portion  of  them)  almost  completely  annihilate  this  objection.  Tliey 
take  the  Sunday  school  on  a  seven  years'  railway  ride  through  the  Bible 
country,  glancing  at  every  part,  but  stopping  only  at  the  principal 
stations  of  interest  for  outlook  and  exploration.  They  do  for  the 
lessons  what  the  mathematicians  do  for  a  coiuitry  they  would  sm-vey, 
makino-  the  hill  tops  into  stations  and  triangulating  the  whole  region. 
From  the  watch  tower  of  each  selected  lesson,  the  true  lesson  help 
glances  backward  and  forward,  calling  attention  to  the  whole  line  of  the 
history,  but  dwelling  only  on  the  important  parts.  It  is  this  which 
differentiates  the  lesson  help  from  the  ordinary  commentaiy.  It  makes 
the  selected  passage  a  centre,  a  mount  of  vision,  dwelling  there,  but 
showing  its  relation  to  all  the  rest. 

In  conclusion, 

"  HELPS  "  IS  THE  EIGHT  WORD  FOE  THESE  BOOKS  AND  PAPEES. 

Leigh  Himt  named  one  of  his  books  'The  Indicator,'  from  the  bird  which 
indicates  to  the  lioney-himters  where  the  bees  have  laid  up  their 
treasm-es.  The  lesson  helps  are  indicators  pointing  out  the  treasures 
in  God's  "Word,  sweeter  than  honey,  and  richer  than  fine  gold. 


Dailij  Bildc  Tii'ruliiitj   Onjanirjillons.  145 

They  arc  not  substitutes  for  tlic  Word,  but  aids  to  tlic  Word  ;  not 
crutches  lor  the  lame,  but  hidders,  Jacob's  ladders  up  to  the  heart  of  God. 

"The  good  is  the  enemy  of  the  best."  Sometimes.  But  oftencr  tlic 
good  may  be  the  way  to  the  best. 

The  pubHshed  lesson  helps  seek  to  be  "tlie  way  to  the  best,"  to 
enable  more  of  the  teachers  and  scholars  to  see  the  hght  there  is  in 
God's  Word.  We  do  not  need  a  now  Bible  in  this  li)th  century,  as 
some  have  claimed  ;  we  need  only  that  men  shall  see  more  of  the  light 
that  is  ever  shining  in  the  old  Bible.  We  do  not  need  a  new  sun, 
new  earth,  new  stars,  in  this  19th  centuiy.  We  only  need  that  our 
men  of  science  shall  shew  us  the  marvels  and  splendours  of  the  old 
creation ;  for  with  all  their  revelations  and  inventions  they  have 
yet  brought  out  but  a  few  rays  from  the  countless,  measureless  glories 
and  blessings  treasured  up  in  the  "Works  of  God. 

"Upward  we  jn-pss :   the  air  is  clear, 
And  the  sphere-music  heard, — 
The  Lord  hath  yet  more  light,  more  trutii 
To  break  forth  from  His  Word." 

I  know  a  clergyman  who,  in  his  boyhood,  was  near-sighted.  He  had 
never  seen  anything  beyond  a  narrow  range.  All  the  beautiful  world 
was  as  if  it  were  not.  When  he  was  twelve  years  old  Iiis  father 
furnished  him  with  a  pair  of  near-sighted  spectacles.  Then  for  the 
first  time  the  broad  landscape  burst  upon  his  view — the  wide  vision  of 
beauty  that  had  always  been  around  hun,  but  unseen.  The  lesson 
helps  are  spectacles  to  the  near-sighted.  Not  to  create  a  new  truth, 
not  to  add  a  letter  to  the  Word  of  God,  but  to  help  the  multitude  to 
see  more  of  its  fullness,  its  wealth  of  blessed  trutlis,  that — 

'•  Earth  is  crammed  with  heaven, 
And  every  common  bush  a-fire  with  God." 

A  fe>v  months  ago  a  professor  at  Wcllesley  College,  Mass.,  spent  half- 
an-hour  in  pointing  out  to  me  the  depth  of  meaning,  the  spiritual 
beauty  and  power  of  a  world-famous  picture  I  had  looked  upon 
many  times,  but  never  before  had  seen.  Tjiat  picture  is  henceforth 
transfigured  to  me. 

The  lesson  helps  are  to  stand  by  teacher  and  scholar,  and  help  them 
to  see  more  of  the  love  and  truth,  the  blessedness  and  the  glory  of 
our  divine  Teacher  and  Savioiu',  that  he  may  be  transfigured  beforu 
them  for  evermore. 

DAILY  BIBLE  READING  ORGANIZATIONS. 

5^  Mk.  C.  Waters  {Hon.  Secretary  of  Home  Missions,  Sunday 
School  Union). 

The  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  not  a  message  for  Sunday  meditation 
merely,  but  a  principle  which  should  affect  and  control  our  tlioughts 
and  actions  at  aU  times. 

I. 


llG  The  International  Lesson  Plan. 

The  Biblo,  as  tlic  rcc-ord  of  that  Gto.spul,  is  an  cvcry-day  book,  a  ht'l[i, 
a  guide,  a  comfort  in  the  toil,  the  strnggles,  and  the  trials  of  life. 

The  Bible  is  now  ilie  one  boot  for  the  Sunday  sehool,  and  this  is  an 
advance  npon  the  time  ■\vlicu  the  spelling-book  and  the  copy-book  were 
needed,  bnt  there  is  yet  a  further  step  to  be  gained.  The  inlluence  of 
the  few  hours  we  spend  with  our  scholars  is  far  outweighed  hy  the  six 
davs  of  home  and  worldly  life,  and  it  will  be  nuniifestly  an  advantage 
to  introduce  the  Bible  into  every  home. 

But  A  house  full  of  Bibles  would  not  shed  one  glimmer  of  light  on 
the  poor,  sin-belated  soul  if  they  were  never  opened.  Tliank  God,  wo 
have  a  cheap  Bible,  and  the  liberty  to  read  it ;  what  wc  need  now  is 
the  desu-e. 

There  are  many  supposed  obstacles  to  the  habit  of  Bible-reading.  I 
say  supposed,  beeaiise  when  it  is  a  question  of  feeding  the  body,  cii-cum- 
stances  are  made  to  bend  to  the  necessity,  and  there  shoidd  be  an  equal 
anxiety  to  obtain  nourishment  for  the  sonl,  for  which  we  need  neither 
toil  nor  pay.  IMen  in  business  have  to  concentrate  their  energies  on 
then-  occupations,  children  at  school  have  so  manj'  home-lessons,  young 
men  and  women  so  many  "  engagements,"  and  eveii  Clu-istian  people, 
when  nrged  to  more  frequent  Bible  study,  have  been  known  to  say,  "  I 
have  no  time." 

Many  good  intentions  as  to  Bible-reading  fad  for  want  of  some  plan 
by  which  the  readuig  may  be  rendered  not  merely  practical,  but  really 
helpfid.  This  has  long  been  recognised,  and  many  years  ago  schemes 
were  proposed  for  consectitive  reading  from  Genesis  to  Eevelatiou,  one 
chapter  a  day,  or  in  other  cases  a  larger  portion,  in  order  to  read 
through  the  Bible  in  the  year.  There  is  something  to  be  said  for  this 
consecutive  plan,  especially  in  the  case  of  those  who  have  opportunity 
and  capacity  for  a  critical  studii  of  the  Bible.  But,  after  all,  there  is 
nothing  sacred  about  the  order  of  the  books  comprising  the  Old  and 
Kew  Testaments.  They  are  not  arranged  chronologically,  and  there  is, 
therefore,  no  overwhelming  advantage  in  this  plan,  while  for  family 
purposes  there  are  some  obvious  disadvantages. 

Some  of  these  are  avoided  by  another  plan  ot  selecting  certain  books, 
and,  with  some  exceptions,  reading  the  books  consecutively. 

Both  these  plans  have  their  advocates,  and  have  without  doubt  led 
many  thousands  to  read  and  love  the  Bible  who  would  otherwise  have 
neglected  it. 

But  it  is  worthy  of  consideration  by  us,  as  Sunday  school  workers, 
how  far  a  plan  of  daily  Bible-reading  may  be  incor]iorated  with,  and 
form  part  of  our  work,  and  so  Avhile  promoting  habitual  reading  at  the 
same  time 

LiyK  IT  BOTH  AVITH  THE  HOME  A-^Vi  THE  SUXDAT  SCHOOL. 

It  will  be  clear  that  such  a  plan  will  have  double  eflect  in  adding  mte- 
rest  to  the  reading,  and  increasing  the  eliectiveness  of  the  Sunday  school 
teacliing. 


I)(iUij  Bible  Ilcadintj  Oii/<titi;:ali(iii!s.  1-17 

i'lic  adojjlioii  of  the  luteruatioual  Lessons  iu  so  mauy  couuti-ies  into 
which  Sunday  school  influence  has  extended,  has  formed  a  channel  by 
M'hich  such  a  plan  may  become  practically  almost  universal. 

A  step  was  gained  when  home-readings  m  connection  with  the  lesson 
were  prepared  and  pubhshed  in  the  yarious  Sunday  school  periodicals. 
But,  as  the  New  York  Illustrated  Christian  IFeeJcltj  says,  "  It  is  one 
thing  to  provide  the  selections,  and  another  to  secure  the  readlnrj  of 
thorn,"  and,  speaking  fi-ora  Enghsh  experience,  we  fear  that  the  number 
who  paid  any  heed  to  the  subject  was  very  small.  There  was  still 
uonictliiug  required  to  force  into  prominence  the  provision  made,  and 
to  secure  the  practical  use  of  it.  This  has  been  accompUslied  by  the 
"  International  Eible  Beading  Association,"  which,  by  uniting  the 
readers  in  a  central  organization  with  branches  in  aU  five  divisions  of  the 
globe,  has  stimulated  Bible-reading  very  largely,  and,  as  testimony 
proves,  has  been  successful  in  a  marked  degree  in  helpmg  and  benefiting 
both  teachers  and  scholars,  and  in  influencing  the  daily  hfe.  We  lay 
emphasis  upon  the  iiiemleyshlp,  for  many  who  commence  the  habit  of 
daily  Bible-reading  with  very  good  intentions,  permit  shght  obstacles  to 
interfere  A\-ith  the  regularity.  But  the  bond  of  membership,  and  the 
cense  of  honour  arising  therefrom,  are  influences  which  materially  help 
to  overcome  the  real  or  supposed  obstacles.  It  may  be  said  that  duty 
is  not  the  truest  principle  on  which  the  Bible  shoidd  be  read.  Be  it  so  ; 
but  experience  has  taught  tliat  many  who  begin  fi'om  a  sense  of  duty 
fmd  duty  resolve  itself  into  lore,  and  become  a  pleasure  not  to  behghtly 
missed. 

It  is  a  first  necessity  of  tlie  plan  that  the  selection  of  readings  shall 
be  both  ajqivopriate  to  the  subject  and  s^uited  to  the  great  majority  of 
readers.  To  this  end  they  have  been  prepared  bj-  a  committee  of 
practical  workers,  who  ha^•e  spared  no  pains  to  make  them  usefid. 
That  they  liave  succeeded  is  confirmed  by  the  testimony  of  college  pro- 
fessors, muaisters,  and  Simday  school  teachers  in  all  ranks,  in  England, 
America,  and  other  coLintries. 

The  International  Lesson  for  the  following  Sunday  beuig  read  on 
Monday  we  have  before  us  for  the  week  the  subject  of  our  class-study, 
and  we  can  thus  make  use  of  daily  observation  and  reading  to  obtain 
illustrations,  which  will  probably  be  quite  as  efi'ecti-\e  as  those  which 
have  been  told  a  hnndi-cd  times  before.  The  portions  selected  for  read- 
ing on  the  other  days  of  the  week  will  be  found  to  illustrate  the  subject, 
give  some  additional  fact,  or  enforce  the  teaching. 

Remembering  that  most  of  the  members  are  yomig,  and  that  others 
are  engaged  very  fully  in  the  occupations  of  life,  the  portions  are  hmited 
to  about  eight  to  twelve  verses,  so  that  no  one  can  reasonably  excuse 
himself  fi'om  the  daily  reading  for  lack  of  time. 

Many  of  us  know  how  wonderft.dly  some  part  of  the  Bible  has  been 
elucidated  by  some  other  passage,  making  clear  what  was  obscure,  or 
bringing  out  into  lustrous  beauty  that  which  before  was  seemingly 
commonplace.     It  will,  however,  be  luiderstood  that  it  is  not  every  sub- 

L  2 


148  T]ie  Intornational  Lesson  Plan. 

jcct  for  whicli  six  equally  appropriate  and  directly  applicable  portions 
can  be  cbosen,  but  abundant  testimony  has  been  given  to  the  general 
excellency  of  the  selections. 

In  order  to  make  the  reading  move  effective,  short  pointed  hints  on 
each  day's  portion  are  snppUed  monthly  to  the  members,  thus  foi-ming 
a  frequent  reminder  of  the  obhgation  ^vhere  there  might  be  a  tendency 
to  foro-et.  In  January  and  July  also  an  illustrated  cu-cular  letter  to 
the  members  is  issued,  having  for  its  object  increased  love  for  the  Word 
of  God,  and  practical  acceptance  of  the  provision  for  man's  salTatioii 
therein  revealed.  Each  member  thus  receives  a  card  of  membership, 
containing  a  Ust  of  the  readings  and  fourteen  fotir-page  leaflets  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  and  some,  at  any  rate,  -trill  be  sm-prised  to  learn  that 
the  membership  subscription  is  no  more  than  ono  penny,  or  two  cents, 
for  the  year,  when  ten  members  or  more  are  united  in  a  "branch." 
The  subscriptions  are  expended  m  the  general  promotion  of  the  object, 
and  it  is  an  illustration  of  the  power  of  little  tkhigs  that  so  small  a 
sum  suffices  to  cover  the  expenses  of  working,  and  also  to  provide 
assistance  in  the  issue  of  cards  and  cu-cular  letters  in  other  languages. 
It  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  there  are  now  vei-y  nearly 

A   QUABTEB   OF  A   IIIXIION   MElMBr^Ha 

using  the  English  cards  gathered  into  about  3000  branohes  in  Eiu-ope, 
America,  Asia,  Africa,  and  Aiistralasia,  and  the  number  is  being  iU' 
creased  at  the  rate  of  about  40,000  every  year. 

That  it  is  equally  applicable  to  ah  denominations  is  proved  fi-om 
the  reo-ister,  where  there  are  recorded  no  less  than  twenty-nine  distinct 
chm-ch  pohties  fi-om  State  Chui-ches  to  the  Salvation  Ai-my. 

No  elaborate  organization  is  needed  to  conduct  a  branch  of  the  assO' 
elation.  One  earnest  and  intelligent  teacher  in  a  Sunday  school,  or 
member  of  a  young  men's  or  young  women's  class,  viU  find  httle  dix^ 
ficiUty  in  enrolling  members,  and  in  this  department  the  lady  teachers 
have  done  splendid  work  as  branch  secretaries. 

This  work  may  fairly  claim  to  be  a  practical  extension  of  tlie  luter^ 
national  Lesson  Scheme,  carrying  its  influence  over  the  Sunday  into 
every  day  of  tho  week,  and  beyond  the  Sunday  school  into  the  home 
and  daily  hfe  of  all  its  members.  Wherever  tlie  International  Lesson 
is  adopted  the  International  Bible  Heading  Association  will  be  at  home, 
and  it  has  ah-eady  proved  a  motive  power  to  induce  many  to  decide  iii 
favour  of  the  xrniform  lessons.  Already  in  France,  Germany,  Belgiimi, 
Switzerland,  and  Sweden,  cards  have  been  used  in  the  native langiiages, 
aoid  a  Dutch  card  has  just  been  added. 

The  committee  are  hoping  that  this  gathering  of  earnest  co-workers 
tnay  be  a  channel  for  a  grand  extension  of  this  daily  Bible  reading 
m.ovement.  Much  earnest  labom*  is  most  cheerfidly  given  by  its  con- 
ductors, who  rejoice  in  its  success,  and  thank  God  most  fervently  for 
the  blessing  to  spiik-  which  has  attended  it.     They  hope  arid  ^Dray  that 


i)aili/  Bible  Ii"adin(j   Onjaiumtions.  140 

it  may  be  still  fiirtlicr  used  as  a  means  of  si)i'cadiiiy  abroad  in  all  lands 
the  light,  life,  and  joy  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  proeeodiiigs  wore  brought  to  a  elose  by  prayer. 


INTERNATIONAL  BIBLE  READING  ASSOCIATION. 

After  the  close  of  the  afternoon  session  a  nimiber  of  the  foreign  and 
colonial  delegates  adjourned  to  the  Lecture  Hall  of  the  Sunday  School 
Union,  where,  at  the  invitation  of  the  committee  of  the  International 
Bible  Reading  Association,  they  were  entertained  at  tea.   Mr.  H.  Ilawkes 
(London)  presided,  and  welcomed  the  friends,  and  hoped  that  the  meet- 
ing might  be  a  means  of  still  further  increasiu|Qf  the  membership  of  the 
a^asociation.     Mr.  C.  Waters  briefly  spoke  on  the  plan  of  working,  and 
laid  emphasis  on  the  desirability  of  forming  branches,  membership  of 
which  would  be  an  incentive  to  faithfulness  and  regularity  in  reading. 
Mr.  J.  McNab  of  Toronto,  Hon.  Sec.   for  Canada,  spoke  of  his  first 
introduction    to   the  International  Bible  Reading   Association   when 
visiting  London  in  1SS6,  and  mentioned  that  he  had  been  successful  in 
establishing  upwards  of  fifty  branches  with  nearly  3000  members.     Ho 
also  laid  stress  on  the  value  of  the  readings  in  the  Home.     Pastor 
Rohrbach  of  Berlin  and  Mr.  A.  Palm  of  Stockholm  warmly  commended 
the  work  from  experience,  and  words  of  appreciation  were  spoken  by 
Messrs.  Johnson  of  Canada,  Tuckerman  of  Ohio,  Rev.  A.  Lucas  of 
New  Brunswick,  Rev.  C.  C.  Scott  of  N.  Carolina,  Rev.  J.  A.  Briglit  of 
Kansas,  and  others.     A  resolution  of  thanks  for  the  hospitality  shown, 
and  pledging  those  ^jresent  to  etTorts  in  furtherance  of  the  Association, 
which  was  proposed  by  Prof.  G.  E.  Moitow  of  Illuiois,  and  seconded 
by  Mr.  E.  D.  King,  Q.C.,  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  carried  unanimously, 
concluded  a  very  pleasant  interlude  between  the  greater  gatherings  of 
the  Convention. 

The  office  of  the  International  Bible  Reading  Association  is  at  the 
Sunday  School  Union,  50,  Old  Bailey,  London,  E.C. 


(     ISO     ) 


SECOND  DAY— SIXTH  SESSION. 

Wedxesdat  Evening,  July  3rd. 

The  President  (Mr.  !F.  F.  Belscy)  occupied  the  Chair. 

After  a  Hymu  had  been  sung,  prayer  was  offered  by  Eer.  Thomas 
Timmins  ("the  Apostle  of  Mercy"). 

The  President  reminded  tlie  meeting  that  it  was  luiderstood  at  the 
afternoon's  session  tliat  a  few  minutes  before  seven  o'clock  should  be 
devoted  to  hearing  any  of  the  friends  who  were  desii-ous  of  making 
observations  upon  the  matters  before  tliem  to-day.  Two  friends  accord- 
ingly notified  tlieu-  wish — one  a  delegate  from  Switzerland  aud  the 
other  from  France — to  mention  certain  objections  felt  in  those  countries 
to  the  International  Lesson  List.  Tliese  bretlu'en  were  at  once  mvited 
to  the  plntfoi'm. 

THE  INTEENATIONAL  LESSON  LIST. 

Pasteur  Br.  MattHIeu  LiiiiilVEE  (Paris)  :  It  is  rather  audacious  on 
my  part  to  venture  to  address  you,  first,  because  of  my  ijuperfect  know- 
ledge of  English ;  and,  secondly,  because  I  have  a  dissonant  note  to 
sound  in  the  otherwise  harmonious  concert  of  tliis  afternoon.  Our 
lionoiu'ed  brethi-en,  especially  those  fi-om  the  Western  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  have  assured  us  that  the  work  of  the  International  Committee 
■was  nearly  perfect.  I  am  disposed  to  admit  it  with  a  single  restriction, 
tliat  it  is  perfect  for  English-speaking  peoples.  The  coat  is  perfect,  and 
made  by  the  best  workmen  in  the  Avojid,  as  we  have  been  told  ;  but  it 
has,  at  least  from  our  point  of  view,  a  radical  defect— it  does  not  fit  us. 
The  defect  may,  of  com'se,  be  in  us  ;  but  such  is  the  fact,  nevertheless. 
I  ask  permission  to  state  in  a  few  "words  the  reasons  why  there  is,  on 
tlie  Continent  of  Em'ope,  a  growmg  movement  against  the  International 
List  of  Lessons.  In  France  our  Paris  Sundaj^  School  Union  1ms  been 
faithful  during  twelve  years  to  that  plan  ;  but  last  year  we  ■^^■cre  led  to 
consult  our  churches  and  schools  of  all  denominations  on  the  subject, 
and  the  reply,  uearly  unanimous,  to  our  inquiry  has  been  in  favo\ir  of 
the  adoption  of  a  national  plan  and  the  rejection  of  tlie  International 
List.  In  Switzerland  the  movement  agauist  the  List  has  iiot  been  so 
strong,  and  tlie  opinion  is  more  divided.  Our  Swiss  brethren,  rather 
tlian  lose  one-half  of  their  constituency,  liavc  offered  a  prize  for  the 


The  Inli'i-naliniial  Lesson   List.  151 

best  list  adapted  to  llieir  special  wants  and  cireiunstances.    In  Belgium 
and  in  Italy  a  siinilai-  movement  has  taken  place.     Practically  an  im- 
portant part    of  the    Continental  Sunday    schools   have  forsaken   the 
International  List,  and  others  are  upon  the  brink  of  doing  the  same. 
It  would  not  be  becoming  to  this  great  Convention  that  such  a  fact — 
the  beginning  of  the  disintegration  of  tliis   Inlernational  iSystcm  of 
Lessons— should  pass  lunioticed.     I  have  myself  long  been  a  strong 
defender  of  the  International  plan — a  grand  and  noble  idea,  a  generous 
effort  to  create  a  bond  of  union  among  the  Sunday  schools  of  the  world  ; 
but  there  is  such  a  strong  cuiTcnt  of  opinion  against  it  that  we  are 
obliged  to  yield,  lest  we  should  be  carried  away  by  it.     Our  Sunday 
School  Union  being  the  servants  of  the  churches,  and  not  its  master,  we 
can  make  our  proposals,  and  we  have  done  it ;  but  we  cannot  do  more. 
It  is  for  us  a  question  of  "to  be  or  not  to  be."     In  a  few  words,  the 
reasons  against  the  International   List   are  :    (1)    The  length   of  the 
"cycle"   (course).     Our  scholars  leave  the  Sunday  schools  generally 
when  they  are  thirteen  years  of  age.     They  begin  tlien  their  course  of 
religious  instruction  as  catechumens,  in  view  of  ionrirmation,inulor  the 
direction  of  the  pastor  of  the  church.     We  cannot  ha\e  them  with  \i3 
except  in  a  few  cases  more  than  five  years,  and  a  cycle  of  seven  years  is 
too  long  for  us.     (2)  A  second  objection  to  the  International  plan  of 
lessons  is  the  frequent  passage  from  the  Old  Testament  to  the  Kew 
and  vice  versa.     Hemembcr  that  our  French  childreu  have  no  longer 
the  privilege  of  religious  education  in  public   schools,  and  that  the 
Sunday  school  (with  the  precious  help  of  Thui'sday  school  where  it 
exists)  is  the  only  means  of  supplying  tliat  want.     We  need,  therefore, 
a  systematic  and  chronological  teaclmig  of  sacred  history,  and  we  can- 
not be  satisfied  with  a  system — Iwoidd  call  it  a  sandwich-hke  system — 
which  perpetually  obliges  us  to  jump  over  centm-ies,  fi'om  the  tunes  of 
Samuel  to  those  of  Christ,  and  from  Saint  Paul  to  Abraham.     Such 
exercises  are  perhaps  helpful  to  those  of  your  young  people  who  arc 
familiar  with  the  Bible,  but  tliey  bring  inextricable  covifusion  into  tlio 
minds  of  our  young  people.     (3)  Another  objection  generally  made 
among  us  to  the  Inteniational  List  is  that  it  includes  many  subjects  of 
a  secondary  importance  and  others  too  dilHcidt  for  ordinary  children. 
But  this  remark  has  been  made  in  England  as  well  as  on  the  Continent, 
and  some  satisfaction  has  been  already  given,  I  am  glad  to  say,  to  those 
■who  liave  made  such  a  complaint.     I  conclude  my  remarks  by  assuring 
our  able  brethren,  who  are  preparing  the  International  List,  that  hi 
separating  ourselves  from  them  we  obey  a  sense  of  d\ity  aud  the  neces- 
sities of  a  very  difficult  position,  whicli  cannot  be  well  understood  except 
by  those  who  are  labouring  among  Roman  Catholic  peoples.     AVc  have 
decided  to  divei-ge  from  you  as  little  as  possible,  and  to  make  in  our 
arrangements  all  possible  concessions  to  your  plans  aud  methods.     And 
■we  hope  that  the  time  will  come  ■when,  with  consideration  on  the  part 
of  the  strong  for  the  wants  of  the  feeble,  and  with  some  progress  on  our 
side,  o\u-  Continental  appetite,  whicl:  for  tlie  present  needs  milk,  and 


152  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

even  milk  and  water,  Avill  be  sufBcient  to  assimilate  the  substantial 
food  jou  serve  so  plentifully  and  so  generously  on  your  international 
table. 

Pasteur  Cuaeles  Jaulmks  (Lausanne)  :  You  have  just  heard  that 
the  Sunday  School  Union  of  France  has  felt  obliged,  for  many  reasons, 
to  abandon  the  International  List.  French  Switzerland,  which  I  have 
the  honour  to  represent  here  to-day,  is  on  the  point  of  doing  the  same  ; 
and  I  think  it  is  right  that  we  should  be  allowed,  on  this  occasion, 
to  give  our  reasons.  I  may  be  excused  if  I  repeat  some  of  the  objec- 
tions that  have  already  been  urged.  I  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  of 
stating  that  the  committee  of  Lausanne  are  very  reluctantly  compelled 
by  circumstances  to  take  the  step  they  are  domg.  If  the  Swiss  Union 
has  so  long  remained  faithful  to  the  List,  it  is  in  spite  of  many  diffi- 
culties which  they  have  had  to  encoimter.  We  are  fully  alive  to  the 
advantages  of  imion  in  Sunday  school  work,  especially  with  such  great 
countries  as  the  United  States  and  England.  Both  of  you  arc  powerful, 
and  can  do  quite  well  without  us,  who  are  few  and  feeble ;  but  it  is 
much  more  difficult  for  us  to  do  without  you.  A¥e  fully  recognise  the 
real  value  of  the  International  List,  and  the  grand  idea  which  underlies 
it ;  but,  perfect  as  that  list  may  be  to  our  Amei'ican  bi-ethren,  we  still 
have  dared  to  make  some  objections  against  it.  The  discontent  has 
grown.  Religious  papers  have  taken  the  thing  in  hand,  and  pubhc 
opinion,  of  late,  has  been  aroused  on  the  question. 

As  in  France,  the  difficulties  in  Switzerland  are  due  to  the  special 
circumstances  in  which  we  find  ourselves.  Briefly,  they  are  these. 
(1)  Our  Sunday  schools  are  still  in  their  mfancy,  and  much  less 
developed,  intellectually  and  spiritually,  than  are  yours.  Our  teachers, 
especially  those  in  the  country,  are  generally  very  young,  and  withoiit 
much  experience.  (2)  The  short  time  that  our  scholars  spend  in  the 
Sunday  school  is  another  cause  of  difficulty.  The  average  is  four  or 
five  years,  from  the  age  of  eight  to  twelve  or  thirteen.  Two  reasons 
may  be  given  for  that  fact :  (a)  The  services  for  the  young  established 
by  our  national  church,  for  children  of  a  certain  age,  and  which  draw 
from  us  a  good  many  scholars.  In  Lausanne,  for  instance,  about  500 
childreiT  have  left  the  Sunday  school,  in  order  to  attend  those  services, 
which  are  held  at  the  same  hour,  (b)  There  is  also  in  France  the 
catechumen  class,  wliich  is  the  religious  instruction  given  by  the  pastor 
before  the  first  communion  of  each  chdd.  All  children  from  twelve  to 
sixteen,  and  sometimes  even  from  twelve,  are  obliged  to  attend,  when 
this  is  taught,  tlu-ee  times  a  week,  and  on  Sunday  as  well,  (c)  The 
consequeilce  of  that  fact  is,  that  we  do  not  have  in  our  schools,  as  a 
rule,  children  over  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old. 

Our  friends  will  now  understand  how  it  is  that  their  list,  so  well 
prepared  and  adapted  for  the  wants  of  Enghsh  and  American  schools, 
does  not  apply,  in  the  same  way,  to  our  special  cu'cumstances,  and 
sometimes  presents  great  difficulties  to  us.  And  that  is  the  reason 
why  the  opposition  to  the  Internatioiial  List   has   grown    so  strong 


The  Jiiternnilonal  Lesson  List.  153 

to-day   that   we   arc  tluvatuned  with  the   prospect  of  a  great  many 
leaving  us  altogetlicr  if  we  do  not  provide  for  a  more  practical  list. 
This    year,    the     Sunday    School     Union     of    Lausanne    accordingly 
decided   to   open  a  competition  for  the  preparation    of  a   list.     To 
this  challenge  twelve  responded,  and  we  have  thus  been  enabled  to 
gather  wliat  are  the  principal  criticisms  directed  against  the   Inter- 
national List.     You  will  notice  that  they  are  very  much  tlu^  same  as 
those  of  our  French  brethren.     (1)  There  should  be  fewer  dogmatical 
and  abstract  subjects.     With  tlie  exercise  of  great  talent,  it  may  not 
be  dilRcult  clearly  to  explain  such  matters ;  but  it  sliould  be  remem- 
bered, as  I  have  already  pointed  out,  that  most  of  our  teachers  are 
young  and  uneducated.     (2)   Changing  from  the  Old  Testament  to  the 
New  only  every  year  is  preferable  to  six  mouths.     As  our  friends  have 
observed,  changing  every  six  months  is  confusing  to  the  minds  of  our 
young  children.     (3)  There  should  be  a  shortened  " cycle  "  (coui-se). 
As  the  children  in  our  schools  remain  only  four  or  five  years,  it  seems 
natural  that  the  cycle  should  not  exceed  that  period  of  time.  However, 
the  conviction  of  my  father,  Mr.  Jaulmes  Cook,  and  of  experienced 
brethren,  has  been  tliat  this  question  is  not  the  most  important,  and 
that,  provided  the  first  two  requests  could  be  met,  some  arrangement 
might  easily  be  made  to  retain  the  Union  in  French  Switzerland.     In 
these  circumstances,  a  cycle  of,  say,  six  years,  for  instance,  would  have 
many  chances  of  obtaining  adhesion  from  our  Swiss  schools.     The 
division  might  be  something  like  this :  1st  year.  Creation  to  Moses ; 
2nd,  Matthew  and  Mark  continued  ;  3rd,  Moses  to  Joshua  ;  4th,  Luke ; 
5th,  Judges  to  the  Captivity ;  6th,  John  (three  months),  and  Acts 
(nine  months).     I  am  not  sure  whether  any  changes  in  the  future 
International   List   could   be   made  according   to  the  wants  I  have 
indicated.     MVe  know  that  we  are  Ycry  few  in  numbers,  and  that  you 
may  not  notice  at  all  our  separation,  if  we  part  from  you.     But  we 
also  know  that  you  desire  union.     Would  it  be  too  much  to  ask  that 
some  kind  of  commission  might  be  appointed  to  investigate  the  matter 
carefully,  and,  for  the  sake  of  union,  make,  if  possible,  some  of  those 
concessions  which  we  deem  to  be  so  necessaiy  to  us  ?     When  a  big 
brother  goes  out  for  a  walk  with  a  little  one,  the  latter  may  soon  get 
tired  in  ti^-ing  to  keep  up  with  the  former,  but  still  he  does  not  want 
to  let  go  his  big  brother's  hand.      Shoidd  he,  then,  hesitate  to  ask  his 
big  brother  just  to  walk  a  little  slower  for  his  younger  brother's  sake? 
That  is    exactly  our   position   in   regard   to  this   International  List 
question ;  and  we  rely  on  the  patience  and  Christian  love  of  oui-  big 
brothers  from  America. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Waeren  Hasdolph  {U.S.A.):  I  am  exceedingly 
gratified  to  hear  the  remarks  of  the  brethren  from  France  and 
Switzerland.  I  desire  to  ask  a  question  which  they  can,  in  a 
moment,  answer  ;  and  their  reply  will  be  of  gi-eat  service  in  the 
Convention.  I  would  like  to  know  whether  the  feelmg  of  objection  to 
the  International  Lessons  is  now  tmiversal  among  the  Sunday  school 


154  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

workers  of  France  and  Switzerland,  especially  of  France.  I  put  tliis 
question,  because  it  is  not  very  long  since  we  had  the  most  hearty 
co-operation  on  the  part  of  a  brother,  well  known  both  in  England  aritl 
in  France,  who  became  a  corresponding  member  of  om*  Conference  at 
the  last  International  Convention  held  at  Louisville.  A  committee  was 
appointed,  and  there  were  four  corresponding  members  from  London, 
and  one  from  Paris.  Pastern*  Jean  Paul  Cook  was  pi-esent  with  us  at 
Louisville.  Only  a  few  months  before  his  lamented  death,  Pasteur 
Cook  wrote  to  me  as  foUoAvs  : — 

"  I  am  in  receipt  of  the  List  for  the  year,  and  have  forwarded  copies 
according  to  your  dhcction.  The  Lutherans  have  prepared  in  Paris  a 
countei-  list,  which  I  have  discussed  and  condemned  in  owv  French 
Methodist  weekly  paper  of  last  week,  the  Evanrjelist^  upholding  the 
International  as  being  superior  and  preferable  in  every  respect.  I  hope 
we  shall  succeed  in  maintaining  it  next  year." 

Now,  what  I  desire  to  know  is,  whether  those  represented  by 
Mr.  Cook  sympathize  with  the  movement  of  now  withch'awing  from  the 
international  course,  or  whether  they  stiU  hold  the  views  that  Mr.  Cook 
expressed  only  a  few  months  before  his  death.  It  will  help  the  com- 
mittee very  much  in  weighing  the  matter  laid  before  \is  if  our  brethren 
will  kindly  answer  that  cjuestion  no^v. 

Mous.  L.  Sautter  (Paris)  :  M.  Lelievre  begs  me  to  answer,  in  his 
behalf,  the  question  T\'liich  has  just  been  put. 

The  Paris  committee,  of  which  for  so  many  years  Mr.  Cook  waa 
Secretary  and  Travelling  Missionary  Agent,  has  supported,  during 
nearly  ten  or  tw-elve  years,  the  International  List,  which,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  greater  number  of  the  members  of  the  committee,  ought  to  have 
been  maintained.  It  ia  only  after  the  strong  expression  of  opposition 
raised  agamst  the  List  by  the  chiirches  all  over  France  that  the  com- 
mittee determined  to  institute  an  inquiry.  Letters  of  inquiry  were 
accordingly  addressed  to  every  school  in  France.  Nearly  300  answers 
were  received  from  the  most  important  schools,  and  the  great  majority 
of  these  answers  pronounced  against  the  International  List.  Of  course 
we  had  no  alternative  but  to  accept  the  reasons,  thus  placing  ourselves 
on  rather  a  theoretical  standpoint  as  to  what  the  pecidiar  wants  of  our 
schools  in  Paris  really  are.  They  certainly  are  not  the  same  as  the 
wants  of  the  schools  in  the  provinces,  which  have  maintained,  with, 
perhaps,  few  alterations,  the  International  List.  But,  after  the  result 
of  the  inquiry  had  been  obtained,  we  found  it  impossible  to  adhere  to 
the  List.  I  think  we  Avere  quite  right  in  ascertaining  the  views 
intention?,  and  wishes  of  the  churches,  and  in  making  a  list  of  our 
own. 

The  President  :  The  statements  we  have  heard  from  the  French  and 
Swiss  delegates,  who  have  spoken  on  this  subject,  will  no  doubt  receive 
the  careful  consideration  of  the  International  Committee. 


Faithful  Bible  Slndij  csscnlial  to  Sjnritiial  Life.     155 


THE  BIBLE  AND  THE  SUNDAY  SCUOOL. 

PAITHVOL   BIBLE    STUDY   ESSENTIAL   TO   SPlltlTUAL   LIFK. 

By  Rev,  Richaiid  Glover  (Bristol). 

It  is  with  regret  that  I  have  to  luidertake  the  work  assigned  to  uie 
to-night.     But  I  do  not  think  any  one  is  at  liberty  to  refuse  to  do  his 
best  because  some  one  else  would  do  it  better.    I,  therefore,  bow  to  the 
call  of  the  committee  ;  and,  as  well  as  poor  nature  and  a  bad  cold  will 
let  me,  I  wish  to  speak  xipon  this  great  theme  "  Faithful  Bible  Study 
Essential  to  Spiritual  Life."     In  the  degree  in  which  we  have  life,  wc 
have  that  which  is  the  light  of  men ;  and,  in  the  degree  in  which  we 
lack  hfe,  hi  that  degree  we  lack  the  leading  light  which  men  woidd 
follow.     Life  is  vision,  it  is  power,  it  is  charm,  it  is  allm-ement,  it  is 
patience,  it  is  a  living  glory  of  the  Lord.     What  we  say  is  important ; 
what  we  do  is  more  importaut ;  but  what  we  are,  in  man,  teacher, 
preacher,  is  evidently  the  most  important  of  all.     That  subtle  thmg  we 
call  influence  depends  on  life.    If  life  be  deep,  natural,  free,  full  of  God, 
then  our  influence  is,  like  Peter's  shadow,  a  mu-acle-workmg  benediction. 
"While,  if  hfe  be  poor  and  constrained,  shallow,  imitative,  it  fails  to  enter 
the  kingdom  itself,  and  keeps  out  those  that  woidd  enter  in.     There- 
fore it  is  not  a  slight  matter  we  have  to  deal  with.    It  needs  not  twenty 
minutes  assigned  me,  but  a  vastly  greater  period  to  treat  it  fairly.     Let 
mc  bc^in  by  saying  a  few  words  on  the  importance  of  spiritual  life.     It 
Ms  many  places   iu  the   teachers  work.     Fh-st   of  all,   we   have  to 
remember  the  coutagious  power  of  character,  its  effective  vigour.     It 
carries  its  seeds  withm  itself.     AU  hfe  is  so  receptive  and  absorbent  of 
interest,  and  all  life  is  on  the  other  hand  so  prolific  of  influence,  that  m 
the  degree  there  is  Life  in  us  and  there  is  something  contagious  in  our 
individual  existence.     Other  Life  infects  our  hves  especiaUy  when  our 
lives  are  young  ;  when  every  facidty  is  a  himger,  wanting  du-ection  and 
ready  to  accept  it ;  when  the  lowly  cliild-miud  is  ready  to  take  om- 
conclusions  as  its  beginnings  and  our  thoughts  as  its  oracles.     Unless 
the  child  sets  itself  to  resist  our  influence,  it  is  moidded  by  it ;  and  we 
cannot  remember  too  earnestly  that  all  character  is  self-propagative. 
"What  the  teacher  is  the  chddreu  tend  to  become.     If  there  be  in  the 
teacher's  life  generosity,  corn-age,  truth,  compassion,  the  finer  elements 
of  sold— these,  of  themselves,  impregnate  their  hves  and  mould  them 
and  start  tliein  in  careers  of  blessedness.     If  we  can  be  what  we  ought 
to  be,  our  chUdren  will  be  apt  to  foUow.     If  John  goes  into  the  tomb 
of  Christ,  Peter  enters  also.     Unconscious  influence  domuiates  man  all 
over,  and,  where  the  teacher  has  it,  the  child  wUl  be  the  first  to  feel 
it  and  to  follow  it. 

Then,  further,  our  character  is  the  great  inteqDreter  of  the  Gospel ; 
the  commentary  upon  it.     By  our  graces  its  meaning  is  understood. 


1S6  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

We  share  with  parents  the  work  of  being  setters  forth  of  God.     And, 
just  as  a  parent  will  enlarge  the  glory  of  God,  if  by  his  character  he 
ennobles  the  meaning  of  the  name  father,  and  just  as  He  will  rob  God 
of  His  brightest  glory,  and  defraud  the  child  of  a  beautiful  Gospel,  if  he 
mars  the  meaning  of  that  name  ;  so  teachers  have  to  supply  by  their 
lives,  by  their  qualities,  the  interpretation  of  many  of  the  great  and 
saving  words  of  truth.     What  does  love  mean?     It  means  what  the 
child  sees  in  the  teacher.     What  does  pity  mean  ?     What  does  purity 
mean  ?     What  does  mercy  mean  that  seeks  to  save  that  which  is  lost  ? 
It  means  what  is  seen  in  the  teacher.     We  are  mterpreters  of  God. 
They  look  through  the  glass  darkly.     As  God  is  miiTored  in  our  lives, 
He  is  iinderstood  ;  and  all  the  great  attributes  of  God  are  only  caught 
as  they  are  reflected  by  us.     We  have  to  remember  that,  while  our  creed 
is,  "I  believe   m  God   the  Father  Almighty,    Maker  of  heaven   and 
earth,"  the  child's  creed  is,  "  I  beheve  in  God  the  Eather  Almighty,  the 
Maker  of  my  fatlier  and  mother,  and  my  Sunday  school  teacher."     The 
child  judges  of  what  God  can  do,  of  what  God  wants  to  do  witli  his 
own  soul,  by  what  he  takes  to  be  the  finished  workmanship  which  he 
sees  in  the  teacher's  character.     If  the  teacher's  life  be  serene  and 
stately,  full  of  light  and  full  of  blessing,  the  fact  moves  the  child  to 
submit  to  influences  that  work  so  beneficently  and  makes  hun  desu-e 
to  become  what  God's  grace  has  made  his  teacher  to  be.     The  teacher's 
life  is  the  interpretation  of  the  Gospel.     We  must  remember  that  we 
mar  the  meaning,  say,  of  a  text  like  "  God  is  love,"  if  our  love  be  not 
something  so  rich,  so  tender,  so  patient,  so  appreciative,  so  confidmg  in 
the  child  as  to  draw  forth  all  his  reverence  and  all  his  trust.     Then  we 
must  remember  that  the  human  character  transmits  the  grace  of  God. 
God  uses  all  sorts  of  human  instruments.     The  weapons  of  our  warfare 
are  heavenly.     The  weapons  of  His  warfare  must,  of  com^se,  be  eai'thly. 
He  tises  not  merely  ovx  lips  and  om'  testimonies,  but  om-  hves.     Mag- 
netising us.  He  makes  us  magnetic.     Every  devout  heart  that  walks 
with  God,  every  heart  that  is  full  of  God,  is,  so  to  speak,  a  sacrament, 
symbol  and  means,  at  once  reveahng  and  transmitting  the  grace  of 
God.     A  heart  full  of  God  is  God  nearer  the  soul  He  seeks  to  save,  is 
God  with  an  instrument  with  which  He  can  work ;  and  the  use  that 
God  makes  of  human  personahty,  of  human  sympathies,  in  the  work  of 
saving  men  is  a  work,  I  venture  to  think,  wliich  theologians  have  over- 
looked, but  wliich  is  largely  illustrated  in  the  history  of  all  the  chm-ches 
and  all  the  ages.   How  rarely  do  we  find  any  one  who  believes  in  Christ 
before  he  believes  in  a  Christian !     He  does  not  love  Him  whom  he 
hath  not  Seen  till  he  loves  one  he  hath  seen.     I  think  the  doctrine  of 
the  Saviour  is  that  God  opens  human  hearts,  not  so  much  by  words  as 
by  wedges,  the  thin  end  of  which  is  a  human  life  and  the  thick  end 
the  Kfe  of  God.     Christ  says,  "  He  that  receiveth  you" — that  opens,  so 
to  speak,  a  half  inch  to  receive  you,  to  ajjpreciate,  love,  welcome  you — 
"receiveth  Me;  and  he  that  receiveth  Me  receiveth  Him  that  sent 
Me."     So  hearts  are  opened.     Opening  at  first  slenderly,  to  admit  a 


Faitlifnl  TUhh'  Stiidii  cuanitltd  In  Spiritual  Life,      l.'i? 

human  spirit  tliat  it  uiulcrstaiuls,  the  limimn  spirit  is  followed  by 
the  living  God,  who  enlarges  the  opening  thus  made  :  "  He  that 
receiveth  a  little  ehild  in  my  name  reociveth  lie ;  and  Ho  that 
receiveth  Me  roeolveth  Ilini  tliat  sent  Me."  And  so  our  great  ealling 
as  teachers  and  preachers  is  to  be  heart-openers,  to  make  tlic  thin  and 
slender  slit  by  which,  in  process  of  time,  God  Himself  will  be  able  to 
enter  the  soid. 

I  must  not  enlarge,  because  time  goes,  but  when  we  remember  that 
character  sows  itself,  propagates  itself;  when  we  remember  that  the 
Gospel  needs  the  commentary  of  the  human  life,  and  has  its  meaning 
enlarged  and  ennobled,  or  its  meaning  obscured,  according  as  we  spoil 
the  meaning  of  its  gracious  terms  or  adorn  them  ;  when  we  remember 
tliat  God  uses  character,  all  its  charms,  and  all  its  influences,  that  grace 
flows  easily  on  lines  of  love, — then  I  think  we  can  feel  how  much 
depends  upon  our  life  being  right.  It  is  not  tact,  it  is  not  genius,  it  is 
not  knowlodgo  of  Scripture,  it  is  not  amiability,  it  is  not  methods  of 
teaching,  it  is  not  places,  it  is  not  rewards.  The  thing  on  which  we 
have  to  ilepend  is  Life — God  within  lis,  animating,  inspiring,  changmg 
us,  making  us  divine.  In  the  degree  in  wluclx  our  life  is  a  shadow  of 
the  Almighty,  in  that  degree  wo  are  fit  to  be  preacliers  and  teachers. 

My  subject  says  that  faithful  Bible  study  is  essential  to  spiritual  life. 
Of  course,  it  does  not  say  that  it  is  suthcient  for  it,  for  a  great  many 
other  things  have  to  go  to  make  spiritual  life  besides  study.  Obechencc 
is  more  than  knowledge,  and  love  is  more  than  industry,  or  even 
than  honesty  in  the  pursuit  of  truth. 

Character  is  the  residt  of  many  influences  and  many  forces.  We 
build  it  up,  brick  by  brick,  by  deeds  of  self-denial ;  every  nobler  act 
veakening,  in  some  degree,  a  poorer  quality,  and  ini'ooting  and  enlarging 
some  nobler  quality  of  the  spirit.  iSo  study  is  not  the  only  means  of 
spiritual  character.  But  still  my  theme  declares  that  the  faithful  study 
of  the  Bible  is  essential  to  spiritual  life.  I  think  that  is  true,  very 
gi-avely  and  solemnly  true,  and  sometunes  forgotten  by  us.  Remember 
what  St.  Peter  says  of  the  Bible.  He  says  :  "  We  are  begotten  again  by 
a  Hving  and  incorruptible  seed."  Remember  what  the  Saviour  says  : 
"  To  know  Thee  is  life  eternal."  To  know  Thee  !  Remember,  brethren, 
how  He  prays :  "  Sanctify  them  tlu-ough  Thy  truth."  Therefore,  I 
think  we  must  settle  it  that,  while  not  the  exclusive  means  of  spiritual 
life,  that  depending  on  acts  of  self-denial,  love,  and  other  things,  yet 
the  earnest  study  of  the  Word  of  God  is  essential  to  it.  Let  me 
indicate  the  different  directions  in  which  the  faithfid  study  of  the  Bible 
will  help  to  develop  spii-itual  life.  First  of  all  may  I  say  that  it 
enlarges  all  our  thoughts — of  men,  duty,  life,  and  responsibility.  If  "  we 
live  and  move  and  have  our  being  "'  only  in  the  ignoble  present  time — in 
the  streets  of  life,  so  to  speak — what  happens?  It  is  only  the  sm-face 
of  things  that  appeals  to  us — the  clamorous  voices,  the  obvious  needs, 
the  immediate  difiiculties.  And  only  the  surface  of  our  being  responds. 
The  deeper  things  of  life  are  silent  in  then-  appeals,  and  the  divine  and 


158  The  Uihh'  and  the  Sitvddii  ScJioal. 

lUMJL'stic  things  of  life  are  distant,  and  not  clamorous.     They  do  not 
irli'ive  nor  ciy,  nor  lift  up  their  voices  ha  the  street  to  the  deeper  things 
of  our  being,   the  hnmortal  part.     Its  power,  its  helps,  its  faculties, 
are  undeveloped  and  unobserved.     "  The  Avorld  is  too  much  -with  us," 
says  the  poet,  "  late   and   soon,  'getting   and  sjiending,  we  lay  wasto 
our  powers."     But  "come  apart  into  the  desert  and  rest  a  while." 
Koam  in  the  sacred  gardens  of  tliis  blessed  Eook.     Walk  with  God,  and 
morning  on  the  mountain-tops  of  this  fair  land  of  Trutli,  and  then 
other  thoughts  begin  to  enter  your  mind.    You  see  the  solemnities  of  life, 
tlie  depth  of  human  capacity.     Yearnings  as  liearts  around  you  whoso 
power  and  objects  they  are  unconscious.    You  see  the  guilt  that  is  meant 
to  lead  men  to  the  Cross,  the  immortal  part,  the  childhood  of  Clod  into 
which  they  can  be  developed.     You  become  conscious  tliat  there  are 
heavenly  helps  for  all  noble  enterprise  in  which  you  engage,  and  that,  if 
you  love  God,  truth  and  knowledge,  lips  and  life  will  be  omnipotent 
against  all  that  seems  to  be  omnipotent  in  evil.     We  get  a  lai-ger  air, 
a  purer  vision ;  and  when  -*ve  see  what  heroes  liave  done,  what  seers 
have  seen,  what  sages  have  taught  us,  there  comes  a  larger  life,  where 
honouring  all  men  we  honom*  ourselves  ;  and,  in  that  great  self-respect 
which  reverences  all  men,  we  find  a  constraint  to  duty,  an  impulse, 
and  a  hope.     We  get  large  views  of  men.     We   are   all   apt   to  get 
pessimistic  as  we  grow  older.     The  only  thing  to  keep  us  young  is  the 
study  of  the  Word  of  God.    That  gives  freshness  and  life.    There  is  no 
note  of  despair  from  beginning  to  end  of  tliis  holy  Book.     We  live  in 
the  lioht.     We  are  not  pUgrims  from  tlie  East,  but  we  are  children  of 
the  light  and  of  the  day,  and  are  taught  to  believe  great  things  of  men 
as  well  as  of  God.     We  see  human  natm-e,  made  by  God,  carrying  his 
iiuaffe,  dear  to  Him,  a  pearl  of  great  price.    Ho  parted  with  all  in  order 
to  win  it.     We  see  hmnau  nature  worn  by  God ;   not  veihug,  but 
revealing,  the  deepest  glory  of  His  infinite  heart.     We  see  Him  hving 
Himself  into  the  life  of  the  world,  marching  on  to  victory.    We  hear  the 
Psalmist  say,  "  All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell,  sing  to  the  Lord  with 
cheerfid  voice."    We  hear  Paid  ask  :  "  Is  He  the  God  of  the  Jews  only  ? 
Is  he  not  the  God  of  the  heathen  also  ?  "     We  get  large  views  of  all 
things  being  reconciled  and  the  whole  world  being  brought  at  last  into 
the  family  of  God.     Brethren,  we  have  small  views  of  man.     We  suffer 
from  that  self-contempt  which,  is  partly  the  pretence  and  partly  the 
penalty  of  self-conceit,  until  we  get  mto  this  larger  atmosphere. 

Tlie  faithful  study  of  the  Bible  wdl  give  vaster  and  nobler  views  of 
the  world  m  which  we  Hve,  of  the  possibilities  of  our  being,  and  stu-  us 
to  loftier  enterprise. 

Still  more,  the  faithful  study  of  the  Word  of  God  will  permit  us  to 
find  God.  We  are  all  seekers  after  the  face  of  God.  Mankind  is  a 
dreammg  Jacob,  that  sees  heaven  opened  and  tlie  angels  descendiag,  and 
God  above  the  ladder.  But  where  can  we  find  Him  ?  There  is  one 
answer  to  the  question:  In  the  cradle  of  Bethlehem,  the  Clirist  of 
Nazareth,  the  Son  of  God  of  Calvaiy. 


Fdilhjiil    Jjihic   SI  11(1 1/   ifi»()ili((l   Id   SjiiriliKil    Life.      IT)".) 

'I'lici'f,  iiol  (lu'dlogiaiis  only,  l)iit  iiiiiu  lias  found  liis  God.  Man 
lias  I'ound  Him  instinctively.  No  suiull  name  was  over  given  to  the 
Christ  of  Nazareth.  "Thou  art  the  Son  of  God,  the  Ivuig's  Israel," 
says  one.  "  Wc  beheld  in  Hini  the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the 
Father,"  says  another.  On  His  head  arc  many  crowns.  The  men  of 
Samaria  came  to  Ilim  and  said  :  "  Thou  art  the  Christ  the  Saviour  of 
the  world."  Brethren,  no  other  book  in  literature  has  a  Christ — no 
other  human  figure  has  ever  pretended  to  be  a  Saviour.  AV'e  want  a 
I'odeeming  God,  and  we  find  Him  here. 

Tiiis  is  no  dead  book,  a  printed  page,  a  desert  land.  This  is  the 
Ivory  PaUvee  of  the  King,  and,  if  we  seek  Ilim  here,  we  shall  find  Him, 
And,  seekmg  Him  here,  you  will  find  Him  living,  answerhig  your  gazo 
v.ith  the  smile  which  is  life.  You  find  Him  still  anointed  to  heal  your 
broken  heart ;  and  you  ilnd  Him  pitiful,  healing  your  backsliding. 
You  find  the  meekness  of  the  Lord  Almighty,  the  marvellous  love  that 
stoops  to  Calvary,  the  power  to  forgive  and  save.  You  find  God  there. 
Wo  are  not  men  till  we  find  God.  "  Thou  hast  made  us  for  Thyself," 
says  Augustine  ;  "  and  our  heart  is  not  at  rest  till  it  rests  in  Thee." 
In  this  Word  of  God  you  find  what  elsewhere  you  cannot  find — a  re- 
dcnming  God ;  and  finding  Him  you  find  all.  We  feed  tlu'ough  the 
eye,  we  live  through  the  eye.  We  grow  like  everything  on  which  we 
look,  ignoble  or  divine ;  and  when  we  gaze  on  Him,  His  beauty,  His 
jnerey,  His  nearness,  that  love  which  brought  Him  to  this  world  to 
oiiva  us,  then  we  are  changed  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  presence 
t)f  the  Lord.  In  this  Bible  we  get  larger  views  of  earth.  In  this  Bible 
we  find  a  redeeming  God.  Both  these  tlmigs  arc  needed  for  the  saintly 
life.  We  have  to  get,  besides,  the  guidance  of  our  common  life.  How 
mucli  we  need  it  to  save  from  misery,  to  guard  from  folly,  to  protect 
from  temptation !  This  is  a  living  oracle,  never  silent,  with  the  answer 
to  the  liomly  question  of  duty,  as  well  as  the  everlasting  question  of 
truth.  Tliis  is  the  Word  of  God  behind  you,  saying,  "  This  is  the  way, 
walk  ye  in  it  " — for  the  guidanee  of  life,  which  prevents  mistakes,  which 
makes  life  cumulative  of  blessing  and  of  usefulness,  until  we  appear 
before  God  in  Zion. 

For  that  we  want  an  Earnest  Study  of  this  Word  of  God.  Now, 
Mr.  Chaii'uiau,  if  you  knew  as  much  of  the  minister's  work  as  you 
know  of  the  merchant's,  you  would  know  that,  in  the  natural  history  of 
sermons,  the  third  head  is  generally  the  most  important  and  the  most 
neglected.  I  appeal  to  my  ministei-ial  brethren.  My  third  head  is, 
"Faithful  study  essential."  Faithful  study.  I  cannot  enlarge  on  this, 
but  may  say  two  or  three  words  upon  it.  Not  casual,  off-hand,  passive 
study,  exposing  yourself  to  the  mere  chance  of  bemg  caught  by  a  casual 
truth — not  that.  Faithful  study  !  AVhat  did  our  brethren  mean  when 
they  put  these  words  down  i\pon  this  title  of  my  theme  ?  I  suppose 
they  meant,  first  of  all,  earnest  study  to  discover  the  exact  meaning  of 
the  words.  Now,  it  takes  a  good  deal  of  study  to  do  that.  You  have 
to  raise  the  question,  what  these  words  meant  in  the  ch'cumstances  in 


160  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

which  tliey  were  uttered ;  to  the  men  who  heard  them  ;  on  the  lips  of 
the  men  who  spoke  tlicm  ;  and  to  get  at  that  you  have  to  I'id  them  of 
all  the  various  meanings  that  generation  after  generation  have  put  upon 
them,  making  simple  words  technical  and  clear  words  obscure  ;  and 
that  is  difficult,  especially  wlien  multitudes  of  these  words  have  been 
battle-words  of  controversy,  and  have  come  to  carry  other  meanings 
altogether  than  they  had  in  the  lips  of  Ilin:  who  \ised  them.  Other 
words  are  worn  by  the  wear  of  centuries,  and  you  have  to  restore  the 
sharpness  of  meaning  which  tliey  had.  Solemn,  earnest,  consecutive 
study  is  necessary  for  this. 

Use  helps,  brethren  ;  but  employ  them  rather  than  submit  to  them. 
Use  helps  that  set  you  thinking,  not  those  that  save  you  thinking. 
Let  us  be  on  our  guard  against  all  meaning-made-easy  helps.  We  have 
had  too  much  of  them  in  the  Church.  Be  patient  in  your  study  ;  it 
will  take  you  eternity  to  learn  all  the  creed.  Make  not  haste  to  bo 
rich,  for  they  that  make  haste  to  be  rich  fall  into— generalizations  and 
technicalities. 

It  is  only  the  creed  you  gi-ow  on  the  premises  of  yoiir  own  heart  that 
is  of  the  slightest  iise  to  you.  Better  a  creed  of  three  articles  home- 
grown than  the  whole  thirty-nhie  put  into  us  by  the  schools.  Faithful 
study  means  the  earnest,  resolute  study  to  know  what  the  mind  of  the 
Master  is,  as  it  is  recorded  here.  Faithful  study  is  the  study  that 
wants  truth  to  live  by  it,  and  not  simply  in  order  to  teach  it. 

St.  Augustine  said  very  beautifidly  :  "  I  preach  that  on  which  I  live, 
and  where  my  soiil  finds  pastm-e  in  that  I  minister." 

Yom-  lesson  to  yom-  class  is  worthless  unless  it  was  fh-st  your  lesson 
to  yourself.  When  yovi  gather  the  children  around  you,  and  say, 
"  Come,  let  us  feast  on  this  feast  of  fat  things  ;  come,  let  us  follow  this 
leading  of  the  Lord,"  then  you  are  in  the  spirit  from  which  they  learn. 
We  never  learn  the  truth  till  we  live  it ;  and  we  have  to  set  ourselves 
to  this  snbhme  but  blessed  task.  Brethren,  I  have  spoken  too  long. 
Pardon  the  weakness  of  my  words.  Let  us  be  thankful  for  our  work. 
"  He  that  findeth  his  work  findeth  a  good  thing."  He  wliose  work  is 
among  the  young,  labours  in  soil  not  yet  trodden  down,  and  free  at  least 
of  many  a  thorn,  and  the  likehest  of  all  soil  to  take  the  good  seed  of  the 
kingdom  and  bear  fruit  abundantly.  Those  who  labour  among  the 
young  never  grow  old.  They  get  the  dew  of  youth  from  those  to  whom 
they  give  the  lessons  of  the  truth  of  God.  Let  us  be  thankful  for  our 
work ;  let  us  be  thankful  for  this  living  Bible.  Tune  writes  no 
wrinkles  on  its  sacred  brow.  What  is  it  ?  It  is  a  smile  of  God.  Come 
ye,  and  let  us  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord  ;  and,  when  we  do  that,  we 
will  catch  His  life,  and  we  will  lead  many  to  the  Light  of  Life,  which 
will  bless  their  immortality. 


Thti  Best  Melhoih  of  Bible  SUulij.  IGl 


STQDY  OF  THE  WHOLE  BIBLE. 

By  Kev.  Dr.  John  Hall  {New  York). 

I  FEEL  a  little  i-egi-et  that  we  are  expected  to  inuko  so  many  Iciigtliened 
speeclies,  aud  that  we  cannot  have  the  opportunity  of  hearing,  to  a 
greater  extent,  the  experiences  of  a  very  large  number  of  our  fellow 
labourers  that  are  gathered  together  here  with  us.  I  shall  be  very  glad 
indeed  if  we  find  some  time  when  thei-e  can  be  a  comparison  of  expe- 
riences, and  when  wox'kers  who  are  not  brouglit  np  to  this  platfoi'm 
will,  nevertheless,  have  the  chance  of  giving  to  all  of  us  the  benefit 
of  what  they  have  themselves  learned  and  reahzed  iu  the  progress 
of  their  work.  I  almost  regret  that  I  am  placed  on  this  platform, 
for  I  am  not  at  all,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  a  publie 
speaker.  I  am  a  mere  preacher.  That  is  the  thing  to  whi'.h  mv  life  is 
devoted,  aud  the  thing  that  I  am  bomid  to  do,  without  adequate  pre- 
pai-atiou,  in  the  best  way  that  I  can.  There  has  been  uo  opportimity 
to  make  adequate  preparation  for  the  statement  that  I  am  lo  make  to 
you  now ;  and  I  hope  you  will  hear  me  as  one  whose  work  is  to  preach 
the  truth,  as  it  is  iu  Jesus,  from  the  pidpit. 

lucidentally,  m  my  early  life,  I  was  brought  into  couuection  with 
organized  Sunday  school  labour.  I  remember  very  well,  when  a  com- 
paratively young  man,  being  brought  to  a  comparatively  large  con- 
gregation. I  had  come  li-om  a  mission  field.  An  enterprising  young 
Presbyterian  had  come  from  Scotland  aud  set  up  liis  house  at  Belfast, 
and,  finchng  that  there  was  very  little  Sunday  school  hterature,  it 
occm-red  to  him  it  woidd  be  a  good  thing  to  prepare  a  little  paper  for 
the  Sunday  school  children  belonging  to  the  Presbyterian  chm-ch.  He 
asked  me  if  I  would  undertake  the  editorship.  It  was  to  be  ouce  a 
month,  aud  was  to  cost  one  halfpenny,  or  sixpence  a  year.  It  did  not 
seem  a  very  formidable  responsibility  to  me,  and  I  agreed  to  take  it. 
He  published  what  he  was  about  to  do,  and,  after  it  had  appeared  iu 
the  newspapers,  I  had  a  communication  from  the  elders  of  the  church 
which  I  was  called  upon  to  serve,  to  the  effect  that  they  wished  to 
have  an  interview  with  me.  I  was  made  very  uncomfortable,  and 
wondered  if  I  had  been  preaching  any  heresy,  or  doing  anything  that  the 
elders  felt  they  were  bound  to  reprove. 

I  went  to  the  committee  with  some  degree  of  trembling.  They 
were  a  most  excellent  body  of  men.  The  oldest  of  the  company  stated 
the  case.  He  said  :  "  We  see  by  the  newspapers  that  you  are  agi-ee- 
iug  to  become  the  editor  of  a  magazine  for  chilch-en  which  is  to  be 
published  once  a  month.  Now,  Mr.  Hall " — I  had  not  got  the  D.D. 
then — "just  think  of  the  bm'den  of  work  that  you  have  iu  this  congre- 
gation. We  cannot  but  raise  our  protest  against  yoiu:  taking  tliis  added 
respousibUity  upon  you."  I  explamed  to  them  what  it  was,  accepted 
theu"  suggestions  with  becoming  humihty,  aud  told  them  that  if,  after  a 


162  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

year,  I  felt  it  was  breaking  me  down,  I  would  pass  over  the  editorsliip 
into  otliei'  hands.  It  did  not  break  me  down,  I  am  glad  to  say,  as 
perhaps  you  can  sec  by  looking  at  me  now.  It  did  so  well  that  I  was 
led  to  pnt  some  of  my  private  means^and  they  were  not  very  large — 
into  another  publication,  wliicli  was  intended  for  tlae  Presbyterian  Church 
as  a  wliole.     That  was  about  the  year  1853. 

Before  the  International  System  had  come  into  use  we  establislied  a 
iiniform  system  of  lessons  for  the  Presbyterian  Cluirch  in  Ireland,  and 
we  provided  regular  helps,  by  the  most  competent  interpreters  of  the 
Scriptm-es  we  could  get,  in  the  pages  of  this  monthly  magazine.  This 
was  before  the  greater  undertaking  with  which  I  have  the  happiness  of 
being  identified  for  the  last  seventeen  or  eighteen  years.  I  am  bound  to 
say,  and  I  say  it  with  deep  sincerity  and  gratitude  to  God  Almighty, 
tliat  I  can  never  fail  to  praise  Him  for  His  leading  me  incidentall}-,  as 
we  say,  upon  these  lines  mto  sympathy,  communication,  and  fellow- 
labour  with  the  men  and  women  that  have  consecrated  then*  talents 
tipon  these  lines,  for  the  training  of  the  young  in  the  knowledge  and  the 
fear  of  the  Lord.  I  am  conscious  that  I  have  not  an  entirely  single  eye 
iu  dealmg  with  the  topic  put  into  my  hand  at  this  time.  What  I  mean 
is  tliat,  while  sjDcakmg  of  tliis  particular  matter,  I  cannot  help  glancing 
at  the  work  of  this  International  System  of  Lessons,  and  incidentally 
dropping  a  word  in  its  defence.  My  dear  and  eloquent  fi-iend,  speaking 
to  us  to-day,  with  the  advantage  of  being  a  Canadian  (Nova  Scotia  man), 
and  now  an  Englishman,  emphasized  the  fact  that  there  are  grades  in  our 
Sunday  schools  among  the  pupils.  Of  coiu-se  there  are.  There  are  grades 
in  our  congregations.  I  have  some  very  cultivated  and  intelligent  people 
in  my  own  congregation,  I  have  a  great  number  of  female  servants ; 
and  I  say  here  with  satisfaction  and  pride  of  the  right  kind,  i.e.,  with 
an  eye  to  God's  glory,  that  among  the  best  attendants,  the  devoutest 
worshippers,  and  the  largest  contributors  for  then-  means,  in  the  con- 
gregation on  the  Simday,  are  the  female  seiwants. 

We  have  grades  of  intelhgence  in  our  congregations.  Do  wc  make 
grades  of  sermons  accordingly  ?  Why,  no ;  we  make  om*  sermons,  when 
we  go  wisely  about  it,  so  that  the  plainest  and  simplest  of  the  people  can 
understand  them.  I  am  going  to  give  a  little  personal  experience.  Ser- 
mons that  I  prepared  thu-ty-niue  years  ago,  to  speak  to  a  congregation 
two-tliii-ds  of  whom  could  not  read,  I  have  preached  m  Fifth  Avenue, 
New  York  City  ;  and  they  have  been  among  the  sermons  that  secured  the 
closest  attention  and  won  the  liighest  connmendation.  I  do  not  wonder 
at  what  has  fallen  from  om-  brethi-en  from  France  and  Switzerland.  I 
like  their  candom-,  I  admii-e  their  honesty,  and  I  have  the  deepest 
sympathy  with  them  iu  the  struggles  hi  which  they  are  engaged.  But 
I  Tentm-e  to  say  that  when  they  have  tried  then-  own  process  a  few 
years,  if  there  shoidd  be  an  opportunity  of  our  coming,  Methodist-wise, 
and  having  an  experience  meeting,  they  will  be  incluied  to  come  back 
and  say,  after  all,  they  cannot  do  very  much  better  than  we  do. 

We  are  iu  the  tliird  period  of  seven  years.     That  puts  me  in  mind  of 


The  Best  Methods  of  Bible  Study.  163 

Something  I  heard  uot  long  ago,  which  Axucricau  friends  here  will  under- 
stand.    There  were  several  brothers  belonging  to  the  fiimily  of  Breckeu- 
ridgcs,  particularly  famous  in  the  South.    Three  of  them  were  ministers, 
and  all  were  distinguished  men  in  theu"  time.     One  day  they   wero 
all  together,  and  were  talking  -with  perfect  frankness  to  their  mother, 
Avho  was  one  of  the  old  school  of  Christian   women.     She  U^•cd  before 
the  brilliant  essay  was  written,  which  some  of  you  I  dare  say  have  read, 
by  a  distinguished  English  authoress,  concerning  chilch-eu  bringing  up 
their  pai-ents  in  the  way  they  should  go.     She  brought  up  her  chilch-en 
in  the  way  she  thought  they  should  go.      One  of  her  boys  said  to  her 
one  day — he  was  a  clergyman  then  with  a  family  of  his  owia — "  Well 
now,  mother,  I  do  thmk  that  sometimes  you  were  a  little  severe  upon 
us,  a  Uttle  strict  and  hard  with  us."     The  old  lady  di-ew  hei'self  up  and 
said  :  "  Well,  Eobert,  when  you  have  trained  and  sent  out  into  tlie 
world  thi-ee  such  preachers  as  I  have,  then  you  can  talk !  "     I  think 
you  can  understand  the  point  of  the  story,  so  I  need  uot  dwell  upon  it 
any  longer.     Now  I  am  directed  to  say  a  few  words  upon  the  thorough 
study  of  the  Bible.      Do  I  need  to  say  much  after  the  words  to  wliich 
jou  have  just  hstened?     I  have  read  Dr.  Chalmers,  and  I  have  met 
Dr.  Cairns  of  Scotland.     It  seems  as  if  the  speaker  to  whom  you  have 
listened  was  a  kmd  of  compound  of  the  two.      Oh,  how  these  Scotch 
people  learn  then-  Bibles,  and  how  eloquent  the  Bible  makes  them,  and 
what  a  power  it  gives  them  to  appeal  to  human  understanding  and  con- 
science ;  for,  when  they  speak  of  it,  they  speak  with  tiie  guidance  and 
the  wisdom,  coming  to  us  fi-om  the  Infinite.     I  say  a  hearty  Methodist 
Amen  to  every  word  that  you  have  heard  from  this  pulpit.     Much  of 
what  I  say  to  you  now,  and  much  of  what  I  would  have  said  to  you, 
is  rendered  imnecessary  by  the  lucid,  earnest,  eloquent,  and  spu'itual 
discourse  which  you  have  just  heard. 

We  ueed  to  study  the  whole  Bible.  When  I  went  into  the  United 
States  twenty-two  years  ago,  I  remember  one  of  the  things  that  used 
to  shock  me  and  distress  me  very  much  in  the  pubhc  utterances,  even 
of  distinguished  men.  I  will  not  give  you  the  words,  but  the  tone  of 
them  was  this  :  "  Oh,  but  we  are  uot  Hebi'ews,  we  aro  Clu'istiaus.  We 
are  in  the  nineteenth  century,  this  enhghteued  nineteenth  centmy.  We 
do  not  need  the  Old  Testament,  it  is  the  New  with  which  we  have  to 
do  now."  To  a  siu'prising  extent  that  was  done  by  many  who  did 
not  mean  to  go  astray.  They  meant  simply  to  be  abreast  of  the  a'^e, 
to  be  progressive,  to  have  understanding  of  the  times,  or,  to  take  that 
word  that  has  been  made  so  popular  in  England,  they  wanted  to  be  in 
hai-mouy  with  their  environments.  If  we  want  to  study  the  Bible, 
dear  frieuds,  it  is  the  whole  Bible  that  we  have  to  study,  the  Old  and 
New  Testament.  Who  can  understand  the  New  Testament  that  does 
not  kuow  the  Old  ?  Who  can  comprehend  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews 
who  can  master  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephe- 
sians,  and  the  Epistle  to  the  Phihppians,  if  he  does  not  know  the  whole 
Testament?     Even  the  song  of  the  redemption,  "And  hath  made  lis 

M  2 


lB-4  The  Bihle  and  the  Sundcuj  School. 

kings  and  priests  unto  C-i-ocl,"  would  be  to  us  a  hopeless  and  inextrlcaWe 
mystery.  Tlie  whole  Bible,  the  Old  Testament  and  New — one  revela- 
tion, witli  the  elements  of  blessed  imity  in  it — that  is  what  we  ai-e  to 
study.  I  venture  to  say  here  and  now  that  the  International  System 
of  Lessons  has  revolutionized  American  feeling  in  the  matter,  and  has 
made  the  Old  Testament  what  it  was  not  fifteen  years  ago  to  millions 
of  om-  people. 

In  the  second  place,  if  we  want  to  have  eflective  study,  we  must 
treat  the  Bible  as  God's  Word  through  and  tlirough.  I  meet  with 
people  now  and  then  who,  if  they  put  their  beliefs  into  any  formal 
statement,  would  say  something  like  this:  "Yes,  the  Bible  is  an 
admirable  book,  a  wonderful  book,  and  undoubtedly  it  contains  a  reve- 
lation from  Grod;  but  to  say  that  it  is  inspired  through  and  tlirough, 
all  from  God,  no,  I  hesitate  about  that.  There  are  parts  of  it  un- 
doubtedly so  inspired."  "  Very  well,  how  docs  poor  human  nature  get 
on  in  regard  to  this  part  of  it  that  reproves  me,  that  humiliates  me, 
that  crushes  my  pride  into  the  dust?"  "  Oh,  but  that  part,"  say  these 
people,  "probably  is  not  iusphed  ;  and  so  I  can  break  the  force  of  its 
appeals,  its  reproofs,  and,  by-and-by,  of  its  exhortations  and  en- 
treaties." I  have  met  people  who,  first  of  all,  set  the  Old  Testament 
aside,  and  then  went  for  the  New.  By-and-by  there  is  something  in 
the  Epistles,  for  example,  that  they  do  not  exactly  like.  "  Oh,"  they 
say,  "  that  is  Paidine,  we  do  not  go  all  the  way  with  the  Apostle  Paul." 
Well,  you  quote  Peter.  "But  that  is  Petrine."  They  are  very  fond 
of  these  big  words,  which  they  get  from  the  Germans.  Now,  I  am  for 
the  whole  Bible,  as  the  Word  of  the  Living  God.  I  do  not  need  to 
dwell  upon  that. 

I  like  to  have  a  good  portion  of  it  memorised.  It  is  a  very  happy 
thing  to  have  memory  verses  in  connection  with  our  system.  No 
one  has  alluded  to  these  verses  as  yet.  I  know  quite  well  how  easy  it 
is  for  some  plausible  person  to  say,  "  Oh,  but  you  are  making  children 
commit  to  memory  what  they  do  not  understand.  "What  is  the  use  of 
that  ?"  I  wdl  tell  you  something.  I  wUl  take  you  into  my  personal 
confidence.  When  I  was  a  small  boy  at  school,  it  was  Lindley  Murray's 
Grammar  that  we  had  to  learn.  I  dare  say  some  of  yon  know  that 
book.  Wc  had  to  commit  to  memory  certain  rules  to  regulate  verbs, 
nominatives,  and  so  on.  Here  is  one  I  committed  to  memory  :  "  A 
noun  of  midtitude  or  collective  noun,  accordmg  as  it  signifies  a  unity 
or  plurality  of  ideas,  takes  the  verb  m  the  singular  or  plural  number." 
Did  I  iinderataud  that  at  the  time  ?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  could  not  have 
defined  the  words  "  imity  or  plurahty  of  ideas,"  but  I  tell  you  I  under- 
stand it  all  now  ;  and  I  remember  it  now.  I  hardly  ever  read  a  paper, 
and  I  hardly  ever  attend  a  public  meeting  where  there  is  not  some- 
tlung  that  recalls  that  good  and  happy  help.  Yes,  I  like  the  children 
to  have  the  memoiy  taken  possession  of  by  appropriate  portions  of 
the  Word  of  the  Livmg  God.  Who  can  tell,  when  m  the  darkness  of 
their  sorrow,  or  the  multiplicity  of  their  temptations,  precious  words 


The,   lirHl   M'-lluuh  of  JVihh'   Stiuhj.  1G5 

of  truth  miglit  eouif  up  imi)c-llcil,  iiiul  ins[>ii-i'tl,  ami  empowered  by  tlio 
Holy  Spirit  lo  drive  tlin  darkness  awav,  oi*  prompt  thoni  to  say  to  tlio 
tempter,  "  llow  can  I  do  this  wickedness  anil  sin  against  God  ?  " 

I  would  add  also  in  tliis  eonneetlon  that  I  would  like  Bible  study, 
even  as  regards  words,  to  be  accurate,  and  more  particularly  where 
these  words  describe  facts  and  incidents.  It  is  so  easy  to  get  into  con- 
fusion. I  had  a  most  beautiful  and  touching  letter,  two  or  three  year* 
ago,  from  a  benevolent  person  in  one  of  tlio  Southern  States.  It  was 
marked  by  all  the  forms  of  gentleness  and  courtesy  which,  in  its 
X'eality,  I  am  glad  to  say  one  finds  in  the  South.  It  asked  a  favour  oil 
Christian  grounds,  and  here  is  a  sentence  which,  I  must  confess,  spoils 
the  moral  effect  of  a  good  deal  of  the  letter.  "  I  hope,  Rev.  and  dear 
Su",  you  will  not  despise  me  as  a  beggar  for  writing  to  you  in  this  way  ; 
for  you  will  not  forget  that  our  blessed  Lord  and  Master  took  Lazarus, 
the  beggar,  and  made  him  his  bosom  friend."  Well,  you  seem  to  notice 
the  point,  and  I  will  not  dwell  upon  it  any  more. 

The  historic  incidents  of  the  Bible  should  be  distinctly  understood, 
and  their  facts  and  characteristics  remembered ;  for  God  has  stooped 
down  to  us  in  our  feebleness,  and  He  has  presented  to  us  great  moral 
and  spiritual  truths  in  statements  of  facts  ;  for  we  remeniber  the  facts 
more  readil}'  tliau  we  do  the  abstract  truths  ;  and  it  is  of  t\\e  last  im- 
portance that  these  facts  shoidd  be  lodged  thoroughly  and  exactly  in 
the  minds  of  those  whom  wc  seek  to  instruct. 

The  thu'd  point  I  would  like  to  make  is,  that  we  should  try  and 
understand,  and  teach  the  Bible  as  a  whole,  as  God  meant  it.  That 
was  touched  by  the  previous  speaker,  and  I  need  not  dwell  upon  it  at 
any  great  length.  I  will,  however,  venture  to  make  a  statement,  which 
will  contribute,  perhaps,  to  clearness  of  thought  in  one  direction.  It 
is  a  common  thing  for  people  to  speak  against  the  preaching  of 
doctrine,  or,  as  they  sometimes  prefer  to  call  it,  dogma.  We  may 
easily  mislead  our  hearers  when  we  talk  in  that  way.  "  Jesus  is  the 
Son  of  God."  That  is  a  simple,  elementary  Bible  truth  ;  but  that  is  a 
doctrine,  a  dogma.  People  do  not  always  get  into  their  own  minds 
the  exact  meaning  of  words,  particularly  when  the  words  are  from 
the  Greek  and  the  Latin.  In  the  late  General  Assembly  that  met  in 
New  York  there  was  some  discussion  about  revising  a  chapter  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith  that  has  sometliing  to  do  with  what  is  called 
predestination. 

The  reporters  there  were  interested  in  the  matter,  and  one  came  to 
mc  and  asked  what  attitude  I  took  in  the  matter  of  predestination. 
I  was  rather  simple,  and  I  told  him  directly  what  I  thought  of  the 
thing.  A  second  came,  and  I  was  wiser;  I  said,  "Pray,  what  do  you 
mean  by  predestination  ?  "  The  gentleman  went  away,  and  did  not 
give  me  any  satisfaction.  A  third  came,  and  reported  himself  as  from 
a  paper,  but  whether  tridy  or  not  I  do  not  know ;  but  he  said  :  "  I 
come  on  bclialf  of  the  paper  I  represent,  to  know  how  you  stand  on 
the  subject  of  procrastination  ?  "     It  is  a  very  easy  tiling  to  mistake, 


166  The  Bible  and  the  Sundaij  School. 

and  to  lead  otlievs  into  mistakes  about  the  meaning  of  words.  The 
Bible  is  full  of  doctrines,  and  wc  are  to  teach  these  in  the  Bible  sense, 
giving  to  eacli  its  Bible  place  and  no  other.  History  has  given  in- 
cidental importance  to  some  doctrines.  Denominational  interests  work 
in  the  same  way.  Dear  fellow-labourers,  what  you  and  I  have  to  do  is 
to  try  tu  put  Bible  doctrines  in  the  places  wjiei-e  Grod  puts  them  in 
the  Word,  and  in  the  relations  to  one  another  that  God  gives  to  them 
in  the  Word.  AVlien  we  do  this,  we  are  training  the  children  in  the 
way  they  should  go.  I  sometimes  hear  of  men,  and  sonietinies  of 
women,  speaking  and  talking  in  this  way  ;  and  they  say  it  is  the  spirit 
of  the  age.  "  We  do  not  want  these  theological  discussions.  AVe  do 
not  want  these  Christian  dogmas  thrown  ixpon  the  people.  A^'llat  we 
want  is  ethical  teaching.  We  want  to  show  the  people  how  to  be 
good.  We  want  to  make  tliem  good,  and  it  is  not  these  theological 
discussions  that  will  produce  this  result." 

I  often  wisli  that  I  covdd  talk  directly  to  some  of  these  public 
instructors.  Then  it  would  be  possible  to  explain  to  them,  I  think,  that 
in  the  Bible,  as  God  has  given  it  to  us,  these  two  things  are  hnked  to- 
gether, doctrine  and  duty ;  and  the  duty  rests  upon  the  basis  of  the 
doctrine.  It  is  because  we  believe  the  doctrine  that  we  shall  try  to  do 
the  duty.  Here  the  doctrine  :  Clu-ist  loved  me,  Christ  died  to  save  me, 
Christ  would  have  me  love  Him,  Christ  first  loved  me.  Here  is  the 
duty  :  I  love  Him,  because  He  first  loved  me ;  and  because  I  love  Him 
I  will  try  to  keep  His  commandments.  The  doctrine  and  the  duty  go 
together.  "  What  God  hath  joined  together  let  no  man  put  asimder." 
Nay,  I  would  go  further  than  that.  The  Bible  supplies  in  its  doctrines 
the  right  kind  of  motive  for  the  domg  of  the  duties. 

If  I  do  them  from  fear  of  the  consequences  of  neglect,  I  am  narrowed, 
and  cramped,  and  crushed  by  fear.  Fear  hath  torments.  It  is  not  so 
with  love.  Love  enlarges,  love  expands,  love  widens  the  natru-e  ;  love 
pm-ifies,  love  elevates ;  and  it  is  to  that  that  the  grace  of  God  makes 
its  appeal.  He  reveals  His  love  in  Christ.  We  love  Him  back  again  ; 
and,  in  trying  to  do  the  duties  because  we  love  Him,  we  are  lifted  np 
and  changed,  in  a  measure,  into  His  image  from  glory  to  glory  by  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord.  I  would,  therefore,  -venture  to  lu-ge  this  as  the  third 
element  that  we  ought  to  keep  in  om-  mmds,  viz.,  the  teaching  of  the 
whole  Bible,  and  in  the  sense  and  spirit  in  which  God  has  been  pleased 
to  give  it  to  us.  If  there  had  been  time,  I  should  have  hked  to  give 
some  illustration  of  the  beautiful  and  glorious  unity  that  God  has 
given  to  the  Old  Testament,  with  corresponding  unity  to  the  New  Tes- 
tament in  its  Tarious  elements  ;  and,  finally,  the  unity  between  the  two, 
which  makes  it  so  important  to  know  the  whole  Bible.  I  will  only 
mention  to  you  one  ch-cumstance. 

You  look  at  the  Old  Testament,  and  in  the  very  beginning  of  it  is 
Eden,  a  very  limited  region  ;  and  two  human  beings  are  there,  with  the 
tree  of  life  in  the  midst  of  the  garden  ;  the  tempter  is  there,  and  the 
temptation,  and  the  sin,  and  the  fall,   Now,  some  one  might  say,  "  Look 


The  Ih'sl  Jllellniih  of  ]lihh'  Si  lull/.  1G7 

here,  wliat  a  faihiro  orcalloii  lias  lji\'ii ;  ]u)\y  God's  plans  have  been 
thwarted,  two  luiniau  beings  expelled  from  the  garden,  and  under  a 
curse.  Wliat  a  failure  tliis  whole  book  is  ;  what  a  faihu'C  this  whole 
creation  is."  You  turn  to  (he  close  of  this  same  book,  and  again  there 
is  the  Garden  of  Eden,  again  the  pai-adise  of  God ;  not  a  luuitcd  spot 
with  its  rivers  and  its  boundaries  inehuled  in  the  new  heavens  and  the 
new  earth.  It  is  not  one  man  and  one  Avoman  that  you  have  liere, 
but  a  great  multitude  that  no  man  can  number,  oi\e  of  every  kindred, 
and  tongue,  and  nation,  and  people.  The  tree  of  life  is  there;  and 
there  is  no  tempter,  and  no  temptation,  and  no  sin  :  evil  is  put  down, 
God  is  enthroned,  Christ  has  reconquered  the  kingdom  and  delivered 
it  \ip  to  the  Father,  that  God  may  bo  all  in  all.  Bui,  my  fellow- 
labourers,  you  and  I  are  to  keep  this  before  ns. 

If  we  at  any  time  are  diseoiu-aged,  or  disquieted,  or  hampered,  or  cast 
down,  let  us  take  om-  Bible  in  our  hands  and  look  away  to  the  glory  that 
i.-  to  be  repealed,  and  we  shall  regain  our  courage  and  confidence  ;  for 
we  shall  feel  ourselves  fellow-workers  with  Ilim  \vho  subdues  princi- 
palities and  powers ;  -who  conqiiers  evil,  who  eetabliehes  right,  who 
glorifies  the  Father,  and  who  shall  see  the  travail  of  His  soul,  and  be 
eatisfied.  And,  oh,  how  much  that  must  be  m  tho  way  of  redemption 
and  salvation  that  satisfies  the  great  loving  heart  of  Him  who  died  on 
the  cross,  that  we  might  have  eternal  life  I  Jlay  God  bless  you,  and 
bless  also  the  work  of  your  hands ! 

J5j/  Eev.  Walter  Hackxhy  {Birmlnriham). 

The  beea  drink  deep  in  the  foxglove's  bell  to  bruig  home  honey  to  the 
hive,  and  the  hope  of  a  teacher  in  Bible  study  is  to  gather  fresh  truth  for 
his  own  life  as  a  Christian,  and  for  the  instruction  and  salvation  of  the 
scholars.  The  instinct  of  transmission  is  an  imperative  need  in  any  one 
seeking  to  teach. 

Yet  no  Christian  thuiker  can  dare  to  be  heedless  of  the  naked  claims 
of  Divine  Truth.  Apart  from  its  use,  there  is  grandem*  unequalled  in 
the  height  and  depth,  in  the  length  and  breadth  of  God's  revelation  ; 
and  tliis  must  compel  om*  most  ardent  attention.  If  men  were  not 
saved  by  the  Word  of  God,  if  the  G  ospel  did  not  convey  to  believers  the 
power  of  Christ's  risen  Hfe,  it  would  still  be  more  worthy  of  considera- 
tion than  all  other  studies  in  one. 

The  science  expressed  in  the  3rd  chapter  of  St.  John  and  the  16th 
verse,  "  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  shoidd  not  perish,  but  have 
everlastmg  life,"  touches  a  pomt  of  thought  and  experience  as  far  beyond 
all  human  discovery  as  the  arch  of  heaven  bending  above  ns  transcends 
tins  globe  of  earth. 

But  to  rightly  study  Divine  teachmgs  we  must  yield  om-selvcs  to 
their  sway.  They  will  never  give  up  theii*  sweetness  and  beauty  to  the 
rude  force  of  a  br\\tal  ravishing ;  only  to  the  woomg  of  lovrly  love 


1G8  The  Bible  and  the  Sundaij  School. 

Some  men  see  therefore  iiolliing  io  desire  in  them,  and  they  can  Avrite 
such  folly  as  when  one  said  of  the  Epistle  to  tiie  Pliilippians,  "  It  is  dull, 
nniiiterestiug,  monotonous,  characterized  h}'  poverty  of  thought  and 
want  of  originality." 

We  must  hring  to  the  Word  of  God  a  reverent  and  docile  mind.  By 
long  meditation,  by  humble  prayer,  hy  real  love,  by  swift  obedience,  we 
must  make  for  the  Bible  a  place  in  our  life,  if  we  would  learn  its  secrets 
of  x^owei'. 

I. 

Let  us  study  the  Bible  IN  the  footsteps  of  Jesus. 

Who  has  not  felt  that  thrill  of  ambition  to  tread  those  holy  fields 
and  liills  and  shores  of  Galilee  ?  Bethlehem,  Nazareth,  the  Mount  of 
Olives  arc  sacred  names  stirring  deep  emotion.  Tor  there  of  old 
Christ  used  to  be. 

Have  we  not  an  equal  longing  to  follow  Him  in  thought  and  study 
and  imitate  Christ  in  learning  truth  ?  His  gentle  mind  delighted  in 
tracing  the  thought  of  God  in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures. 

Planting  our  feet  in  the  prints  He  made,  we  shall  find  indeed  our 
best  guide  and  instructor. 

1.  Christ  Icneiv  the  Scrijjtures  hy  heart.  His  first  quotations  are  in 
conflict  with  Satan:  "It  is -written.  It  is  written.  It  is  written."  The 
fifth  book  of  Moses  was  so  faniihar,  its  sentences  rose  to  His  lips  at 
once,  and  against  them  for  defence  He  flings  Himself  as  to  the  support 
of  a  grairite  rock. 

Listen  to  the  -words  He  repeats  on  the  cross.  He  iises  the  very 
expressions  of  a  psalm  -wi-itten  so  long  since  by  David :  "  My  God,  my 
God,  -why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me  ?  "  To  copy  Christ  we  must  he 
familiar  witli  its  eveiy  word,  have  them  all  as  we  say  at  the  end  of  om' 
tongues,  meditate  on  them  continually,  and  use  them  for  weapons  of 
•war  or  inspii-ation  of  prayer. 

2.  Purther.  Christ  trusted  the  Se)-iptures  as  God's  oion  Word. 
Take  for  instance  that  case  in  John,  chap,  x.,  Sdth  and  35th  verses. 
He  says,  "  Is  it  not  -written  in  yom-  law,  I  said.  Ye  are  gods  ? 
If  He  called  them  gods,  iinto  whom  the  word  of  God  came,  and  the 
scriptm-e  cannot  be  broken,"  &c.  This  was  ont  of  the  82nd  Psalm, 
which  is  a  nameless  song,  but  Christ  quotes  it  as  unbreakable  truth. 
Take,  again,  that  text  in  Matthew  ssvi.  54  :  "  How,  then,  shall  the 
Scriptures  be  fulfilled  that  thus  it  must  be  ?  " 

The  Old  Testament  to  Jesns  our  Lord  is  the  unquestioned  word  of 
Jehovah.  The  Old  and  New  Testaments  are  blended  for  ns  into  one 
indissolvable  truth. 

3.  Moreover,  Chnst  used  the  whole  of  the  JBooJc.  Luke  says  in 
chapter  xxiv.  27:  "Beginning  at  Moses  and  all  the  prophets.  He  ex- 
pomided  unto  them  in  all  the  Scriptm-es  the  thmgs  concerning  Himself," 
tmtil  His  hearers'  hearts  burned  -vrithin  them  as  they  walkecl  with  Hin^ 
in  the  way." 


'I'll'   lir.^l   Mrthnds  of  Jilhhi   Slwh/.  1G9 

I  saw  a  tree  in  a  ri>cky  hiiif,  a  yew  oiicf  Irosli  and  grooii,  now  witlioi-iHl 
nnd  bavr.  lis  aiuiinl  Iriink  was  liollowed  out,  mid  tlio  shell  was 
gnarled  and  riMi(.  ils  branelies  stretched  like  weird  nnns  black  and 
desolate  to  tlie  sky,  and  only  a  few  sliglit  l)laiks  ol"  leaf  altestcd  its 
vital  power. 

The  Eible  (o  Jesus  was  not  like  that  tree.  It  was  green  and  alive 
with  Qod's  own  Spivifc  to  the  uttei-most  jjoint  of  its  being. 

4.  Again,  Christ  drew  forth,  from  Scripture  compared  with  Scrip- 
ture, the  large  general  truths  it  contained.  In  Matthew's  gospel, 
ohaptei'  xxii.  37,  Christ  answers  a  question  concerning  the  greatest 
of  all  the  eoniniandments.  He  quotes  from  Leviticus  and  Deuter 
onomy :  "Tliou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soid,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This  is  the  first  and 
great  commandment.  And  the  second  is  like  unto  it,  Thou  slmlt 
love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  On  these  two  commandments  hang  all 
the  law  and  the  prophets." 

So  Christ  learnt  the  Scriptures  off  by  heart  to  become  familiar  with 
their  very  words.  They  were  to  Him  as  second  nature.  lie  i-ested  ou 
them  as  tlie  bare  truth  of  God — promises  given  which  coidd  not  be 
broken — prophecies  spoken  which  must  be  fulfdled.  lie  used  the 
whole  book,  and,  while  naming  some  writers.  He  reckons  them  all  as 
speaking  from  God. 

He  compares  one  part  of  Sei-ipture  with  others,  and  draws  out  from 
the  whole  compi-eheusive  truths  which  He  loved  to  teach. 

Old  Standfast  said,  when  crossing  the  river,  "  I  have  loved  to  heai* 
my  Lord  spoken  of,  and  wherever  I  have  seen  the  print  of  His  shoe  in 
the  earth  there  I  have  coveted  to  set  my  foot  too," 

We  rejoice  to  copy  our  Saviour  in  this,  and  so,  studying  the  Bible,  wp 
find  His  promise  is  ever  true. 

"  I  am  the  Light  of  the  world :  he  that  foUoweth  Mp  shall  not 
walk  in  darknes?,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life," 

II. 

Let  us  study  the  Bible  xtndee  the  guipaxcf,  of  a  liEilAnLE  COll- 

MEXTATOR. 

This  coimsel  may  need  some  qualification. 

1.  Do  not  let  gour  guide  be  gottr  master.  Rather  go  to  him  for  facts 
than  doctrines.  For  facts  of  interpretation,  of  language,  of  science,  of 
history.  There  are  knotty  and  difficult  points  in  the  Bible  a  wise  guide 
will  help  you  to  understand.  His  experience  will  be  to  you  comfort 
and  safety. 

In  Switzerland  a  friend  and  I  were  ascending  a  lofty  mountain,  and 
I  wished  to  clamber  over  a  rough  piece  of  rock.  But  he  from  his  past 
adventures  there  advised  me  rather  to  skirt  round  its  base,  and  so 
escape  the  uncei'tain  beyond.  I  foinid,  when  his  counsel  was  taken  and 
followed,  how  narrowly  I  was  saved  from  great  danger.  But  when  I 
reached  the  summit  peak  I  used  my  own  eyes  to  behold  the  extensive 


170  The  Bible  and  the  Smidaij  School. 

vi>ion  of  glory  wliioU  sjirond  out  before  us.  So  our  own  hearts  uuder 
God's  holy  light  luiist  study  :uid  contemplate  truth.  A  Avise  guide, 
liowevcr,  uiay  help  us  greatly  in  avoiding  mistakes  of  material  fact. 

2.  But  let  it  he  a  reliuLIe  commentator — one  who  is  scholarly, 
painstaking,  accurate,  and  spiritually  mnidcd.  Ecware  of  those  who 
are  iratrue  to  the  Grospel.  Some  men  arc  to-day  acting  as  lagos  in 
ilieological  life.  Their  design  seems  to  be  to  lead  Christian  Othello  to 
doubt  the  honour  of  Scripture  Desdemona.  For  this  they  use  tlie  most 
subtle  suggestions,  and  manipulate  the  minutest  points  of  suspicion 
which  can  possibly  bo  twisted  into  signs  of  her  falseness.  Very 
miserable  and  fiendish  appears  their  misconduct.  Othello,  poor  credu- 
lous fool,  has  often  been  driven  to  doubt  and  despair,  so  that  sceptical 
writers  with  triumph  have  said  of  the  man  whose  faith  they  have 
marred : 

"Not  poppv  nor  manJrngoi-a, 
Nor  all  tho  drowsy  syrups  of  the  world, 
Shall  ever  medicine  theo  to   that  sweet  sleep 
Which  tjiou  ow'dst  yesterday." 

But  let  Christian  Othello  cleave  to  his  love,  and  go  question  tlic 
Scriptures  themselves  with  cai'e,  bringing  out  aU  facts  to  the  light  of 
day  ;  and  the  traitor  shall  then  be  exposed. 

We  must  maintain  om-  faith  in  the  Word  of  God  and  reject  all  the 
lies  of  men.  Wo  must  seek  to  be  guided  by  wise  commentators,  whoso 
hearts  are  true  to  the  Sacred  Word. 

Let  noble  minds  keep  ever  with  their  like, 
For  who  so  firm  that  canuot  be  seduced? 

And  this  suggests  that  the  best  Scripture  commentai-y  is  often  found  in 
friendly  fellowship  ;  in  the  Christian  converse  of  truth-seekuig  teachers, 
meetmg  with  the  single-eyed  motive  of  gaining  a  greater  light  on  the 
lessons  they  ponder, 

III. 

Let  us  study  the  Bible  XESSON  by  lesson. 

Herein  we  shall  gain  the  advantage  of  mind  concenti-ation. 

1.  Tri/  to  draw  out  and  state  clearly,  on  paper  perhaps,  the  leading 
and  halanced  ideas  of  the  Scripture  iefore  you.  For  instance,  supposing 
we  w^aut  to  teach  that  passage  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  chap,  v., 
from  verse  15  to  21  (E.V.),  beginning  at  "  Look  therefore  carefully  how 
ye  wulk,"  and  ending  with  "  Subjecting  yom'selves  one  to  another  in  the 
fear  of  Clu'ist." 

These  eight  rules  of  practical  Christian  living  come  out  with  dis- 
tinctness :  — 

(1.)  A  Christian  must  walk  before  men  in  the  world  with  the  greatest 
care. 

(2.)  He  miist  buy  up  every  opportunity  of  good. 


The  Best  Metluuh  of  Bible  Siiuhj.  171 

(3.)  lie  must  alwivj's  strive  to  imdoi'staiid  God's  will, 
(i.)  lie  nuist  avoitl  all  oeeasious  of  excess  and  riot. 
(5.)  IIo  must  be  filled  with  tlie  Holy  Ghost. 
(G.)  He  must  give  forth  his  gladness  in  spiritual  song. 
(7.)  llis  life  must  be  a  eontinual  thanksgiving. 

(8.)  He  must  wear  Christ's  meekness  for  Christ's  own  sake.  Hei-o 
come  out  for  om'selves  and  our  pupils  prineiples  of  widest  application 
and  force. 

2.  Now  lirealc  up  each  thonaht  info  Us  se'jcral  points  hi/  careful 
meditation  on  that  j""'^  of  the  passcif/e  coniaininfj  the  idea.  This  will 
bruig  out  the  collateral  thoughts  in  theii-  richness  and  strength.  As 
an  example,  "  Look  therefore  carefally  liow  \e  walk,  not  as  miwise  bvit 
as  wise." 

(1.)  Think  of  our  walking  itself.  This  word  is  used  seven  timec 
in  the  Epistle.  The  walk  of  this  world:  chap.  ii.  2;  the  walk  Oi 
Divme  pm-pose:  chap.  ii.  10;  the  walking  worthy  of  God's  vocation ; 
chap.  iv.  1  ;  the  walk  of  separation  from  the  woi-ld :  chap.  iv.  17  ;  the 
walk  in  love  :  chap.  v.  1 ;  the  walk  in  the  liglit :  chap.  v.  S  ;  the  walk- 
ing  circumspectly  :  chap.  v.  15. 

(2.)  Thhik  of  the  care  we  need  on  account  of  our  own  danger  in  a 
world  of  sin,  and  the  influeueo  of  our  example  ou  others.  Care  to  have 
the  right  guidance  in  life,  and  care  to  obey  it  exactly. 

(3.)  Think  of  the  folly  of  being  lieeclless  in  such  a  world  as  this. 
So  each  idea  blossoms  oiit  into  thoughts,  and  knits  into  fruitful  deeds. 
3.  Now  apply  each  point  to  your  own  experience,  forcing  your  heart 
and  life  into  spiritual  contact  with  all  words  you  utter.  Thus,  with 
regard  to  being  filled  with  the  Spu-it,  ask  yourself  whether  that  is  yom- 
joy  ;  and,  if  not,  what  you  need  to  receive  it,  praying  and  crying  to  God 
for  His  grace  to  prepare  and  fill  up  your  heart  with  His  love. 

Then  apply  these  points  to  the  case  of  each  scholar.  You  have 
perhaps  a  dozen  gu-ls  in  your  class.  Then*  names  you  know ;  their 
homes  you  visit ;  their  lives  you  can  miderstand ;  you  think  of  them. 
This  one  is  sorely  tempted  and  tried  by  wicked  companions,  and  you 
associate  her  with  "  careful  walking."  This  one  is  crushed  and  oppressed 
with  sorrow.  Yoii  link  her  case  with  learning  God's  Avill.  This  one  is 
inclined  to  be  bad-tempered,  miruly,  rebellious,  and  self-assertive  at 
home  or  in  service.  You  bring  down  the  lesson  of  meekness  and  sub- 
jection to  her.  By  applying  each  point  to  yourself  and  yom*  scholars, 
OS  it  blossoms  out  in  yovu'  meditation,  you  will  gain  great  sympatliy 
with  them  in  their  weakness,  and  youi-  words  will  become  life  words  of 
comfort,  of  power,  and  of  truth. 

4.  No w  2^1  ace  these  2>oints  in  order  of  utterance  ;  those  most  impor- 
tant, of  course,  most  prominent,  the  least  needful  to  be  laid  aside  if 
compelled.  Fit  to  each  one  winging  feathers  of  wise  illustration  and  seek 
for  illiuninatiug  portions  of  Scriptm-e.  Much  light  will  come  on  the 
Word  you  study,  and  much  joy  will  come  to  the  patient  seeker,  as 
Cruden  lays  bare  choice  treasiu-es  of  truth,  hidden  away  in  remote  parts 


172  Tlie  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

of  the  Bible,  or  your  '  Biblical  Treasury  '  or  '  Sunday  School  Chroiiicle ' 
opens  before  you  a  wonderful  story. 

To  study  t-'iich  lesson  like  this  means  labour,  but  the  result  is  its  sure 
reward.  Twelve  months  of  suck  toil  will  have  given  the  teachers  a 
larger  knowledge  of  Holy  AYrit,  will  have  brought  their  lives  into  touch 
with  its  power,  and  their  scholars'  mmds  to  the  light  of  the  Gospel. 

We  have  considered  a  passage  that  is  not  stoi-y.  A  story  needs  to  be 
dealt  with  hkewise.  You  must  attempt  its  realization,  however,  by  the 
aid  of  some  vivid  describer  of  Scripture.  We  cannot  be  grateful 
enough  to  those  writers  who  are  making  the  Savioiu-'s  land  their  study, 
and  are  collecting  for  ub  such  accui'ate  statements  concerning  its  details. 
These,  though  so  needful,  are  subordinate  always  to  the  2^>'(ictical  aim 
of  the  lessons  we  teach.  Let  the  historical  setting  be  clear  to  ourselves, 
and  therefore  to  those  we  instruct ;  but  let  not  the  gold  of  tlie  ring  be 
too  heavy  for  the  size  of  tlie  gem  it  contains. 

IV. 

Let  us  study  the  Bible  with  earnest  and  continual  pkater  por 
God's  blessing. 

Great  students  of  human  lore  have  confessed  their  dependence  on 
prayer  for  help  in  their  mentally  toilsome  endeavours.  Much  more  we 
require  God's  aid  when  we  try  to  study  His  Word. 

Om'  prayer  confesses  its  depth  and  our  littleness  ;  that  it  is  Divine, 
and  we  are  but  dust. 

Prayer  is  the  natm-al  attitude  of  the  soul  iii  studying  the  Bible  page 
■ — prayer  which  trusts  iu  God's  promise  of  help,  and  continually  cries 
unto  Him. 

1.  Tf^e  oieecl  the  eyes  of  our  heart  enlightened.  I  was  wandei-ing  over 
a  height  in  the  mist  when  I  came  to  a  steep  incline,  and  could  not  tell 
which  way  to  take.  There  and  then  I  dared  to  ask  for  guidance  of  Hun 
who  is  with  us  for  ever,  and  before  my  eyes  throiigh  the  mist  shone  out 
the  clear-cut  gi-een  of  a  path  which  led  me  straight  to  my  friends.  My 
eyes  were  enhghtened  to  see.  In  a  deeper  sense  our  hearts  ai-e  taught 
to  know  God's  will  when  we  pray  for  light  on  His  Holy  AVord. 

2.  We  wa7it  the  truth  we  gain  to  become  tlie  poiuer  of  God's  life  in 
the  hearts  of  others. 

Only  can  the  gracious  Spirit  of  God  accomplish  this.  Our  lessons 
must  ever  be  soaked  in  prayer. 

3.  We  long  for  our  Lord  to  he  honoured  on  earth. 

Do  we  not  study,  with  this  end  in  view,  to  know  Him  more,  and  to 
spread  abroad  the  aroma  of  His  sweet  name  ? 

I  met  some  chilcTren  coming  back  to  oiu*  smoky  town  from  the 
country-side.  Group  after  group  laden  with  bluebells  ;  hoys  with  their 
arms  full,  and  girls  carrying  bmidles,  shedding,  as  they  passed,  a  faint, 
rich  fragrance  from  the  lovelj%  swift-fading  flowers  they  bore.  And  as 
they  met  me  I  learnt  this  sui-ely,  that  somewhere  along  there  an  abun 


The  Best  MdhudH  of  Bihh  Stadi/.  173 

danco  of  bha-bcUs  sjiivail  like  a  carpet  and  lured  tiie  cliildreii ;  and  also 
that  bluebells  wore  pleasant  to  them.  A  natural  adiidty  drew  together 
the  flowers  and  their  iinioeent  hearts,  and  I  longed  to  visit  that  dell  of 
delight.  So  when  men  heboid  the  (children  of  God  coming  baek  laden 
with  treasures  of  grace  from  converse  with  C'in-ist  in  the  Scriptures  of 
truth ;  when  men  meet  them  in  life  again  and  again  and  cateli  the  sweet 
scent  His  love  breathes  forth,  they  too  learn  to  know  of  tlie  mitold 
wealth  which  somewhere  is  found  by  those  who  believe,  and  they  long 
to  enjoy  it  themselves.  Have  you  not  heard  those  Indians  say,  after* 
coming  some  miles  to  be  tauglit :  "  Some  of  your  talkers  with  God  have 
been  near  our  hunting-ground,  and  have  talked  with  us  from  the  Book 
the  words  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  loves  ns  all  and  came  to  be  our  foregoer 
to  His  better  world,  and  we  are  come  to  the  praying-master  that  he 
may  show  us  Jesus  Clirist's  track  to  those  better  lands." 

But  we  sluiU  only  be  able  to  carry  back  words  which  shall  live  for 
ever  in  those  who  receive  them,  as  we  go  with  humble,  childlike  temper 
and  ask  God  for  His  grace.  "  Open  Thou  mine  eyes  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  Thy  law."  Dr.  McLaren  exquisitely  says  : 
"  Love  will  discern  that  it  is  the  Lord  when  all  otlicr  sight  is  dimmed." 
For  the  love  of  Jesus  is  tlie  golden  key  to  unlock  the  riches  of  God'a 
Holy  Book. 

METHODS  OF  STUDY  PROPER  FOR  SCHOLARS. 

£j/  Mil.  James  Bailey  (London), 

In  attempting  to  deal  with  this  subject  two  things  have  to  be  con- 
sidered, botli  separately  and  in  their  mutual  relation  each  to  the  other, 
viz.,  the  subject  of  the  study  itself — the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  those 
who  study  it — the  scholars  of  the  Sunday  school.  It  is  clear  that  the 
answer  to  the  question.  What  is  the  proper  method  of  study  ?  must 
depend  upon  the  answer  to  another  question— What  do  the  special 
circumstances  of  the  scholars  requh-e  ?  The  method  proper  to  one 
class,  or  group,  of  students  differs  from  the  method  proper  to  another 
gi'oup,  in  accordance  witli  the  dilTcrences  in  their  age,  capacity,  previous 
training  or  lack  of  it,  and  so  forth.  The  neglect  of  a  careful  conside.-a- 
tiou  of  this  point  has  led  to  much  waste  of  conscientious  earnest 
abour,  because  it  has  been  misapplied,  while  on  the  other  hand  our 
opportunities  are  so  small  and  so  precious  that  it  is  of  the  greatest 
consequence  to  utilize  them  to  the  utmost  possible  extent. 

If,  then,  a  prime  feature  of  metliod  should  be  its  adaptation  to  the 
requirements  of  those  by  whom  it  is  employed,  we  must  obviously  take 
careful  note  of  those  with  whose  case  we  are  dealing. 

■WHO   AEE   THE   SCHOLARS   OF   OUR   SUNDAY  SCHOOLS? 

In  Great  Britain  they  comprise  a  very  lai*ge  proportion  of  our  juvenile 
population  ranging  from  the  earliest  school-going  age  to  IS  or  20  years 


174  The  Bible  and  the  Sundai/  School. 

of  age.  and  iu  many  cases  going  beyond  this.  They  ai"e  to  a  great 
extent  the  children  of  our  public;  elementary  day  schools,  and,  in  addition 
to  them,  the  elder  classes  of  the  Sunday  school  contain  very  many  of 
an  age  much  beyond  that  of  the  oldest  day  school  scholars.  I  understand 
that  the  Sunday  schools  of  Great  Britain  contain  a  much  larger  pro- 
portionate number  of  Tery  yoimg  children  than  the  schools  of  Anierica, 
and  probably  of  our  Colonics  generally,  but  on  this  point  I  hare  not  a 
sufficiently  accm-ate  knowledge  of  the  facts  to  enable  me  to  speak  Avitli 
confidence.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  English  Sunday  schools  con- 
tain many  thousands  of  children  either  of  the  infant  school  age  or  yery 
little  in  advance  of  it.  Tlius,  the  schools  in  connection  with  the 
Sunday  School  Union,  as  reported  in  18S8,  contained  in  round  numbers 
1,400,000  scholars,  of  whom  some  200,000  were  in  infant  classes,  and 
268,000  in  senior  classes,  the  remainder  being  in  the  various  grades  of 
the  intermediate  classes  between  these  two  exti-emes.  Now  the  methods 
of  study,  like  the  methods  of  treatment  generally,  which  are  proper  to 
these  several  groups,  differ  in  no  inconsiderable  degi'ce. 

Let  lis  look  first  at  the  case  of  very  young  children,  of  whom,  it  is 
seen,  we  have  such  large  numbers.  With  them  the  process  of  obtaining 
knowledge  is  almost  -wholly  confined  to  the  operation  of  the  senses 
upon  external  tilings,  or  to  verbal  descriptions  of  their  elders,  which 
should  be  simple,  pictm-esque,  and  well  illustrated.  For  school  injtrtic- 
tion  and  study  they  are  almost  absolutely  and  ■wholly  dependent  on 
their  teacher,  both  for  the  selection  of  what  they  learn  and  for  the 
mode  in  which  they  acqiiire  it.  Study,  for  them,  means  chiefly  receiving 
what  then-  teacher  presents  to  them.  As  in  the  Sunday  school  the 
chief  sources  of  instruction  arc  the  truths  contained  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tiu'cs,  the  natural  means  of  rcseai-ch  and  investigation  by  wliich  young 
children  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  quahties  and  properties  of  material 
things  around  them  are  not  available.  Further,  abstract  truth  they 
can  realize  in  a  vevj  limited  and  imperfect  degree  only.  It  must  take 
the  form  of  narrative,  biography,  truth  as  presented  in  connection  with 
natural  life  and  visible  things  about  us.  And  this  is  just  the  form  in 
which  much  of  the  truth  is  revealed  to  us  in  the  Bible.  If,  therefore, 
it  can  only  be  brought  into  contact  with  their  mind,  it  can  be  under- 
stood and  apprehended  by  them.  How  is  this  to  be  done  ?  Only  by 
the  living  voice  of  the  teach'n-.  It  is  wonderful  to  note  how  exactly  the 
Scripture  thus  lends  itself  to  the  needs  of  the  very  youngest.  But  it 
must  be  interpreted  and  brought  home  to  them  by  the  spoken  words 
of  the  teaclier.  Oral  teaching  is  the  great  vehicle  of  commimication, 
aided  by  pictorial  representation ;  it  may  be  also,  by  black-board  sketches 
and  by  such  illustrations  as  appeal  to  the  sense  of  sight.  This  forms 
the  appropriate  method  of  study  for  the  youngest  classes.  The  process 
must  be  aided  by  all  that  may  help  to  win  the  attention,  suuple  lan- 
guage, pictm-esque  description,  clear  illustration,  winsomcness  of  manner ; 
for  the  mental  attitude  of  attention,  which  is  essential  to  o\ir  purpose, 
can  be  gained  only  bv  exciting  their  interest. 


The  Best  3Idhuds  of  Bible  SUuh/.  175 

If  this  be  so  it  is  of  inomontous  im))oi'tanec  that  the  dcscriplions  of 
the  teacher,  the  pictures  of  Script  are  persons,  scenes,  and  incidents, 
and  the  blackhoai-d  sketches,  should  uU  be  ns  accurate  niul  truthful  as 
can  be  reasonably  secured,  else  we  shall  be  teaching  falsely.  The  more 
liclpfuland  valuable  any  aid  to  instruction  is,  the  more  certain  and  fixed 
the  impression  made  by  it  upontlie  young  mind,  the  more  scrupulously 
necessary  is  it  to  have  regard  to  the  fidelity  to  trutli  of  the  instrument 
by  wliich  the  impression  is  made.  I  have  spoken  of  the  value  of  good 
pictures.  There  are  many  such  accessible  to  Sunday  school  teachers 
which  convey  with  force  and  clearness,  and  in  most  attractive  form,  a 
surer  realization  of  what  they  represent  of  Scripture  incident  or  scene 
than  the  best  words  wliich  the  teacher  can  employ,  and  for  some  of 
the  best  of  these  we  ai-e  indebted  to  the  enterprise  and  skill  of  our 
American  friends. 

Eut,  while  this  is  true,  there  are  probably  few  of  us  who  have  not 
seen  pictures,  it  may  be  of  considerable  merit  in  respect  of  correctness 
of  form,  richness  of  colouring,  and  even  beauty  of  general  conception, 
which  by  the  imagination  of  the  designer,  or  the  taste  of  the  executant, 
violate  propriety  and  convey  obviously  misleading  ideas  of  what  they 
profess  to  represent.  To  many  of  us  has  happened  the  experience  of 
having  to  take  much  trouble  to  remove  impressions  and  ideas  of 
Scripture  matters  which  subsequent  knowledge  has  shown  ns  to  be 
undoubtedly  wi"ong. 
So  is  it  also  with 

TITE    U6E   OP   THE   liL.VCK-UOAUD, 

In  the  hands  of  a  skilful  teacher  it  ia  a  most  efTectire  auxiliary  tc; 
the  ordinary  means  of  instruction,  whether  for  diagi-ammatic  represen- 
tation or  for  verbal  sketches  ;  but  in  incompetent  hands  it  may  be,  and 
sometimes  is,  a  very  mislending  agency  to  the  children,  who  cannot 
discriminate  between  what  it  is  intended  to  suggest  and  what  it  actually 
presents  to  the  eye. 

A  Hke  caution  is  needed  as  to  the  use  of  material  ilhistrating  with 
young  children.  Well  used,  they,  like  pictures  and  black-board  sketches, 
brighten  the  lesson,  make  clear  what  is  obscure,  and  greatly  help  to 
secure  and  sustain  the  attention,  without  which  the  best  teaching  elTort 
is  in  vain.  But  it  is  sometimes  faidty,  because  misleading,  occasionally 
grotesque,  or  even  ludicrous,  tending  to  excite  emotion  foreign  to  the 
pui-pose  of  the  lesson,  or  distracting  the  attention  of  the  little  ones  from 
the  lesson,  instead  of  concentrating  their  attention  upon  it. 

Let  it  not  be  stipposed  that  in  thus  inviting  your  attention  for  a  time 
to  methods  of  teaching  I  am  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  the  subject 
assigned  to  me  is  methods  of  study  for  scholars.  The  two  are  inextri- 
cably interwoven.  The  study  of  the  scholar  is  dependent  ou  the 
method  of  the  teacher,  as,  in  tlie  pattern  upon  the  tapestry,  the  colour 
and  the  fomn  of  it  are  inextricably  as.^ociatcd  with  the  work  of  the 


176  Tlic  Bihic  and  the  Sundaij  School. 

■weaver  who  has  produced  it.  Here,  then,  is  our  method.  So  far  as  the 
young  scholar  caii  study  his  lesson  it  must  be  through  the  oral  descrip- 
tion oHiis  teacher,  the  pictured  representation  which  is  brought  to  bis 
aid,  and  such  illustrations  verbal  and  material  as  the  resources  of  his 
teacher  may  enable  him  to  provide. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  case  of  the  senior  scholars.  Through  deve- 
lopment of  mental  power  they  are  capable  of  much  wide  self-effort,  and 
should  be  encom-aged  to  rely  more  and  moi-e  upon  it.  Though  the 
work  of  the  teacher  in  the  form  of  direct  communication  of  knowledge 
is  not  yet  to  cease,  the  work  of  tlie  scholar  in  the  direction  of  research, 
in  drawmg  upon  the  stores  of  memory',  in  gathering  and  storing  for 
themselves,  in  thought  and  reflection  upon  what  is  accumulated,  must 
be  ever  proportionately  increasing.  For  he  can  now  search,  compare, 
infer,  judge,  reflect.  He  neither  needs,  nor  is  satisfied  Avitli,  a  mode 
which  throws  all  the  weight  of  preparation  upon  the  teacher,  and  which 
makes  Iiim  simply  the  passive  recipient  of  what  is  presented  to  him. 
Even  if  he  were,  such  a  method  would  not  tend  to  the  retention  and 
application  of  what  was  so  acquired. 

The  work  of  selection  of  the  subject  is  still  needed,  antl  that  of 
guidance  and  direction  as  to  what,  and  where,  and  liow,  the  study 
should  go  oir  ;  difliculties  must  still  be  removed  out  of  his  way,  or  he 
must  be  helped  over  them.  The  Bible  must  now  be  a  siiith/,  itself 
Jirst.  The  scholar  at  this  stage  should  be  led  to  the  understanding  of 
tlie  Word  througli  the  Word  itself,  its  parallel  passages,  the  references 
which  throw  hght  upon  one  part  of  the  text  by  what  is  contained  iu 
other  parts.  Then  this  must  be  accompanied  by  whatever  can  be 
obtained  from  external  source  wliich  may  explahi  the  allusions  iu 
emblems,  metajjhors,  geographj^  and  the  social  or  natm-al  conditions  of 
the  places  referred  to  m  the  Scriptm-es. 

The  lessons  shoidd  be  selected  in  accordance  with  a  carefully  arranged 
plan  as  that  of  the  International  Scheme  of  Lessons,  or  some  similar 
scheme.  Such  an  arrangement  gives  the  great  advantage  of  definition 
and  coherence  to  the  whole  work,  and  also  makes  accessible  the  lesson 
helps  now  so  largely  provided  in  the  periodical  literatm*e  pertaining  to 
Sabbath  school  work.  The  scholar  should  be  encouraged  to  do  what  is 
practicable  by  way  of  preparation  for  the  ensumg  lesson.  A  part,  how- 
ever small,  of  the  time  of  each  weekly  meeting  should  be  given  to 
suggesting  where,  and  how,  this  may  best  be  done. 

To  the  majority  of  senior  scholars  the  resources  and  opportunities  open 
to  them  are  doubtless  very  Umited.  Eut  to  a  thoughtfid,  observant 
teacher  \\ajs  will  occur  of  suggesting  how  most  of  the  scholars  may  be 
enabled  to  bring  some  contribution,  if  but  aUttle,  to  the  common  stock 
of  illustrations,  information,  and  thought,  which  may  assist  in  the 
building  up  of  the  lesson  on  the  ensuing  Sabbath.  One  most  valuable 
som'ce  of  lesson  help  is  open  more  or  less  fully  to  all  alike,  viz.,  the 
careful  reading  of  the  Scripture  itself.  If  the  passage  joining  the  sub- 
ject of  the  next  week's  lesson  were  carefully  read  by  each  member  of  the 


The  Best,  McthAs  of  Bible  Study.  177 

class  during  tlie  previous  week  it  woulil  materially  quicken  the  interest 
and  aid  the  intelligent  iinderstunding  of  it. 

Then  tlie  mi'tliod  of  the  class  work  itself  should  involve  a  large  par- 
tieipation  in  tlie  process  of  tiie  lesson  by  the  scholars.  It  should  bo 
largely  conversational.  This  indeed  is  of  the  very  essence  of  teaching, 
tis  di.stinct  from  merely  addressing  scholars  of  all  ages.  But  in  the 
case  of  elder  scholars  something  more  is  needed  than  the  mere  answer- 
ing of  occasional  questions.  Opportunitj'  should  be  given  to  them  to 
contribute  whatever  their  knowledge  or  rellcctiun  may  enable  them  to 
offer.  The  result  of  their  observation  and  thought  should  be  freely 
drawn  upon,  and  should  be  woven  by  the  teacher  into  the  web  of  tho 
lesson  as  it  is  gradually  unfolded. 

To  deal  aright  with  our  subject  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  tho 
proper  study  of  the  Bible  embraces  two  distinct  views  of  its  purpose. 

1.    TUE   INTELLECTUAL  STX;DY   OF   IT, 

for  tlie  pui'pose  of  imderstandlng  its  contents  as  we  understand  ail 
ordinary  book  of  English  literatm-e. 

2.   THE   EEVOTIOXAL   AND   sriRITUAL   STUDi*   OK   IT, 

for  the  purpose  of  affecting  the  conscience  and  the  life.  And  while  tliC 
latter  purpose  should  not  bo  absent  from  the  teaching  at  any  point  of 
oge  or  attainment,  it  shoidd  enter  with  even  increasing  emphasis  into 
the  study  of  the  elder  scholars. 

In  Jacob  Abbott's  '  Young  Christian,'  one  of  a  series  of  works  of 
ttlmost  priceless  value  to  the  teacher  and  the  taught  alike,  well  known 
doubtless  to  many  who  hear  me,  there  is  a  chapter  rich  in  suggestion 
on  our  present  topic,  entitled  "  How  to  Study  the  Bible."  Laying 
stress  on  the  point  that  the  Bible  should  be  studied,  as  distinct  from 
being  cursorily  read,  the  author  proceeds  in  his  most  graphic  and 
interesting  way  to  give  a  practical  illustration  of  how  the  Bible  student 
should  proceed  to  deal  with  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians.  With  the 
aid  of  a  map,  and  a  Bible  Dictionary  or  Commentary,  he  gathers,  before 
i-eading  the  text  of  the  Epistle,  what  may  be  learnt  of  the  city  of 
Ephesus  and  its  inhabitants,  of  Paul's  relation  to  it  and  to  them  ;  what 
light  may  be  thrown  upon  it  by  an  examination  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  and  by  any  allusion  to  those  events  in  the  Epistle  itself.  It 
is  then  pointed  out  how  much  a  preliminary  knowledge  of  these  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case  will  increase  the  intei-est  and  profit  of  an 
examination  of  the  Epistle  itself. 

Next,  taking  a  supposed  case  of  a  family  study  of  the  Bible,  he 
suggests  how  one  member  of  tlie  group  might  have  a  reference  Bible, 
another  a  Concordance  a  third  a  Commentary,  a  fomth  a  Bible  Dic- 
tionary, and  how  each  in  turn  under  the  guidance  of  the  parent  might 
contribute  to  the  exercise  whatever  help  may  be  gained  from  the  book 
before  him. 

N 


178  Tlie  Bible  and  the  Sunch)/  School 

Now  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  we  have  in  such  suggestions 
as  these,  the  niodes  suitable  for  senior  class  study,  with  such  modifica- 
tions as  the  different  conditions  of  each  class  make  necessary.  The 
personal  interest  gained  by  the  personal  effort  of  each  individual  scholar 
is  worth  any  effort  to  secure. 

Then,  too,  we  have  illustrations  from  the  same  source  of  the  value  of 
picturing  to  the  imagination  the  events  and  scenes  described  in  the 
Bible.  This  is  what  is  needed  to  give  life  and  reality  to  what  is  read ; 
"without  this  it  is  apt  to  be  little  more  than  a  barren,  profitless  waste 
of  words.  The  power  and  the  habit  of  infusing  this  reality  into  wliat 
is  read  or  heard  should  be  sechdously  cultivated  by  the  teacher,  and 
imparted  to  the  scholar.  It  comes,  not  by  demanding  it,  not  by  asking 
the  class  to  fancy  this,  or  to  imagine  that,  but  l)y  quickening  the  lesson 
tlu'ough  vivid  pictm-esqueness  of  description,  from  the  earliest  stages 
of  instruction,  and  inviting  the  eftbrt  necessary  to  realize  what  it  thus 
describes. 

I  have  endeavoured  to  lay  stress  on  the  necessity  for  the  proper 
study  of  the  Bible,  on  a  careful,  thoughtful  readhig  of  its  contents,  an 
intelligent  understanding  of  what  it  teaches.  Philip's  question  to  the 
eunuch,  "  Understandest  thou  what  thou  rendest  ?  "  is  one  Avhich  must 
be  ever  present  to  the  mind  of  the  teacher  of  the  senior  class.  In  thia 
way  only  can  the  meaning  of  the  words,  of  the  metaphors,  of  the 
spiritual  truths  conveyed  in  parable,  prophecy,  doctrine,  discourse,  be 
rightly  apprehended. 

To  this,  I  will  add  a  word  as  to  the  value  of  the  committal  to  memory 
of  portions  of  Scripture.  It  is  not  too  much  to  allege  that  a  danger 
incident  to  the  reaction  brought  about  by  improved  methods  of  modern 
processes  of  instruction  from  the  tmintelligent  and  too  exclusive 
memoi'izing  of  former  days  is  that  of  neglecting  the  committal  to 
memory  of  forms  of  words  and  especially  of  the  words  of  Scripture. 
The  reasonable  limit  of  time  allotted  to  me  prevents  my  dwelling  on 
the  methods  of  study  proper  for  scholars  of  the  age  intervening  between 
the  infant  and  senior  classes.  If  what  I  have  imperfectly  advanced  in 
respect  to  them  be  correct,  it  may  be  reasonably  inferred  that  in  pro- 
portion to  the  gradually  increasing  mental  power  of  the  young  student 
there  should  be  a  gi-adual  lessening  of  dependence  on  the  teacher,  and 
a  corresponding  increase  of  effort  on  the  scholars  part,  the  teacher  ever 
in  advance,  selecting,  guiding,  helping,  but  ever  encouraging  more  and 
more  reliance  upon  memory,  investigation,  thought,  and  the  expression 
of  it,  ever,  too,  deepening  the  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  both  for 
the  increase  of  knowledge  and  for  the  increase  of  that  application  of  it 
by  which  the  Word  shall  bring  the  learner  ever  nearer  to  Him  of  whom 
it  testifies. 


The  President  :  Arrangements  have  been  made  for  those  of  the 
foreign  delegates  (a  limited  number),  who  desh-e  to  see  the  process  of 


Lord's  Day  Observance.  179 

the  piiuthig  of  the  Gospel,  to  iicjept  the  kind  invitation  of  JMessrs.  Eyro 
&  Spottiswoode.  It  may  have  occuiTed  to  you  tliat  to-nioirow  is  the 
4th  of  July,  and  so  tliat  we  may  celebrate  it  witliout  interfering  with 
the  Convention,  we  have  arranged  to  have  a  celebration  in  the  basement 
of  this  church,  beginning  to-morrow  afternoon  with  a  tea  at  five  o'clock. 
We  will  not  celebrate  the  day  in  the  Convention,  but  we  are  going  to 
take  cpiiet  tea  together  in  a  very  modest  manner,  and  strictly  in  accord- 
ance with  Sunday  school  delegate  lines. 


ADDRESS  ON  LORD'S  DAY  OBSERVANCE. 
By  Rev.  Dk.  Fulton  {SioUzerland). 

1  left  the  mountains  of  Switzerland  to  see  a  greater  object  than  I 
have  ever  seen  before,  and  that  is  the  World's  Sunday  School  Con- 
vention. I  felt  in  my  heart  in  Italy  as  I  never  felt  before  that  there 
Nvas  work  for  you  to  do  here  for  the  whole  world.  In  America  we  are 
hot  doing  what  we  ought  to  do.  We  have  received  millions  from 
Europe,  but  we  have  never  put  our  brain,  and  arm,  and  heart  to 
work  for  the  whole  world  as  ■wo  should  have  done.  England  lias 
done  this,  and  to-day  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  can  be  preached  iu 
India  and  Afiica  and  all  parts  of  the  world,  because  the  shadow  of  the 
Union  Jack  is  cast  over  the  world.  Now,  I  had  the  feehng  in  Italy 
that  there  was  a  little  work  this  Convention  might  do.  I  was  so 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  its  being  done  that  I  left  my 
daughters  to  travel  alone,  and  came  here  at  once  to  say  a  few  words  to 
you.  You  may  not  know  it,  but  Europe  is  without  a  Sabbath  as  we 
have  it  in  America  and  in  England.  They  know  uotliing  about  it.  I 
have  seen  the  pictures  of  the  Assumption  and  the  Crucifixion,  but  my 
Lord  is  on  the  mediatoi'ial  tin-one,  and  He  desu-es  that  you  and  I  should 
represent  a  livmg  and  not  a  dead  Chi'ist,  and  I  beheve  He  wants  us  to 
represent  it  now  in  Europe  as  never  before.  I  want  om*  executive 
committee  to  have  theii*  attention  dra\ra  to  it. 

I  have  already  spoken  to  our  distinguished  fi'iends  from  New  York, 
Chicago,  and  Rhode  Island  about  it,  and  I  want  to  bring  it  before  you 
for  a  moment  so  that  you  may  appoint  a  committee  or  instruct  the 
executive  to  di'aw  up  a  paper  that  shall  be  heard  tlu-oughout  the  world. 
1  do  not  feel  that  we  as  Christian  men  and  women  are  holding  the 
position  we  might  if  we  only  had  larger  faith  iu  God  and  moi"e  faith  in 
vhat  the  truth  can  do.  In  other  words,  let  me  say  that  if  this  World's 
Sunday  School  Convention  could  find  it  iu  theii'  heart  to  have  a  paper, 
drafted  by  a  committee  whose  names  are  known  all  oier  the  world,  to  be 
edcbessed  in  a  proper  and  respectful  manner  to  the  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many, the  King  of  Italy,  aud  other  potentates,  calling  theii'  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  Sabbatli,  as  God  planned  and  commanded  it  should 
be  honoured  and  observed,  is  utterly  unknown  in  Europe,  and  that 

K  2 


180  The  Bible  and  the  Sunday  School. 

because  of  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  have  a  Sunday  school  thci'c 
to-day. 

I  want  to  say  this  question  was  pressed  more  and  more  on  my  heart 
as  I  prayed  about  it.  I  talked  to  several  influential  men,  gentlemen  con- 
nected with  religious  work  in  Eurojie,  and  asked  them  what  they  thought 
could  be  done.  One  said  :  "  If  you  would  put  influential  men  in  com- 
munication with  our  largo  manufacturing  interests  in  the  land  wliei'c 
there  are  large  nmubers  of  men  employed,  so  that  it  should  be  given  out 
that  there  should  be  no  work  on  the  Sabbath  day,  you  could  have  a  Sab- 
bath morning  congregation  and  a  Sunday  school."  Something  must  bo 
done.  When  I  read  tlie  story  of  Mordecai  and  Esther,  and  how  he  told  her 
she  must  go  uato  the  king  on  behalf  of  her  people,  she  said,  "  All  right ; 
you  go  and  call  om'  people  to  prayer,  and  I  and  my  maidens  wiU  go  to 
prayer,  and  I  will  go  into  the  king,  and  if  I  perish  I  perish."  That 
very  night  when  she  and  the  people  went  to  prayer  the  king  could  not 
sleep,  and  he  arose  and  asked  that  the  records  should  be  read  to  him, 
and  Mordecai  was  brought  to  his  attention,  and  the  people  were  saved. 
I  met  m  Italy  the  missionary  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  I  asked 
him  why  he  did  not  ask  God  Almighty  to  tm-n  tlie  heart  of  the  king, 
and  his  ministers,  and  the  people  towards  himself.  I  liave  the  honour 
to  be  that  man  who  through  the  power  of  prayer  was  the  cause  of  the 
conversion  of  Mr.  Stanton,  American  Secretary  for  War.  I  felt  bound 
to  offer  up  a  prayer  for  him,  and  afterwards  I  went  to  huu  and  told  him 
of  it.  He  said,  "  It  is  a  queer  tiling,  for  seven  days  my  mind  has  been 
occupied  with  the  thought."  I  said,  "  I  don't  know  what  is  coming, 
but  I  think  you  have  no  time  to  lose.  God  Almighty  wants  you  to 
give  Him  yom'  heart."  He  asked  me  to  lead  in  prayer,  and  I  did,  and 
he  broke  into  tears  and  was  converted.  God  Almighty  can  touch  the 
heart  of  a  ruler  as  well  as  of  a  ^irivate  person.  Some  time  ago  a  Con- 
vention met  in  Italy  and  prayed  for  its  rtders.  Three  days  from  the 
time  the  Convention  bowed  in  praj'er  for  the  ministry  and  King  of 
Italy,  Comit  Crispi,  who  has  done  more  to  break  the  power  of  Komanism 
than  any  other  man,  said  in  a  speech,  "  We  must  lean  on  God."  Every 
paper  in  Italy  opposed  the  speech,  but  Crispi  stands  to  it.  Was  it  an 
answer  to  prayer  ?     I  think  something  in  this  form  would  do. 

Dr.  Fulton  suggested  that  a  memorial  be  sent  to  the  crowned  heads 
of  Em'ope  on  the  observance  of  the  Lord's  day. 

Let  it  go,  said  he,  winged  with  prayer  to  the  potentates  of  the  earth 
and  the  people  of  Europe,  and  I  believe  om-  Sunday  school  work  will 
begin  a  new  era  and  a  new  mission. 

Mr.  P.  B.  Betck  {Glasgow)  :  This  is  a  mightily  important  matter 
that  has  been  submitted  to  the  Convention,  and  I  do  not  think  it 
would  be  wise  to  do  anything  impulsively.  I  move  that  it  be  remitted 
to  the  eleventh  session  of  this  Convention,  and  dehberately  looked  at 
and  disposed  of  by  the  Convention  itself. 

Mr.  B.  E.  Jacobs  :  I  am  greatly  surprised  to  see  Dr.  Fulton  to-night. 
I  have  just  seen  a  young  brother  from  Kew  Tork,  who  has  called  M\f 


LorcVs  Daij   Ohscrvance.  XSI 

attention  to  tlic  f;iet  that  an  intornational  Sabbath  Convention  has 
bcoii  called  to  meet  in  the  City  of  Paris  in  October  this  year,  and  wo 
are  not  going  to  wait  for  tlie  elcventji  session.  This  brother  has  been 
resident  for  seven  years  in  Paris, 

Mr,  Andehson  (Paris)  -.  I  feel  proud  to  appear  before  you  to-night. 
I  come  from  the  American  Sunday  schools  in  Paris,  and  many 
Americai3s  who  have  come  to  our  schools  have  said  what  a  pleasure  it 
was  to  find  a  really  first  class  Sunday  school  there.  I  received  a  letter 
a  few  days  ago  saying  that  the  World's  Convention  called  together  in 
Paris,  under  the  permit  of  the  French  Government,  would  meet  on  the 
13th  of  September,  and  I  had  been  nominated  as  one  of  the  delecrates 
for  the  United  States.  I  think  that  movement  will  bring  fortli  great 
results.  Before  we  can  do  any  really  Christian  work  in  Europe  we 
must  have  Sabbath  observance.  Now  you  cannot  get  at  the  natives, 
because  they  take  that  day  for  their  own  enjoyment.  We  are  goinn-  to 
make  a  great  effort  to  let  this  Convention  have  a  great  effect  in  France, 
and  all  over  Europe.  Leon  Say  and  many  of  the  deputies  have  taken 
the  Convention  up,  because  they  have  recognized  from  a  social  and 
political  point  of  view  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  one  day  of  rest.  In 
Paris  to-day  there  are  nearly  500  young  men  and  women  studyinnf  art. 
They  come  from  pure  homes  and  Christian  families,  and  they  have  no 
idea  of  doing  that  which  is  wi'ong  ;  but  most  of  them  are  without 
means,  and  they  are  obliged  to  seek  what  lodging  they  can  find,  and 
they  are  drawn  amongst  temptations  which  people  have  no  idea  of  who 
have  not  lived  artist  life  in  Pai-is.  The  result  is  that  not  5  per  cent, 
come  into  the  church  or  attend  rehgions  instruction.  There  is  no 
place  where  a  man  can  drift  as  he  can  in  Pai'is.  That  they  do  di'ift  we 
liave  many  lamentable  instances  before  oiu"  eyes.  They  go  back  to 
America,  and  there  they  have  great  influence.  Nobody  wdl  deny  the 
influence  of  art  on  life,  and  of  the  life  of  the  artist  on  his  work.  We 
do  not  want  a  Continental  or  French  Sunday  in  America.  There  are 
young  men  to-day  having  the  greatest  influence  in  art  who  are  holding 
their  studio  receptions  on  the  Sabbath  day.  My  idea  is  to  have  an 
oro'anization  in  Paris  to  get  them  together  when  they  come  to  that 
city  and  keep  them  under  the  same  influences  they  were  under  at  home. 
Any  one  who  goes  back  to  America,  and  knows  of  artists  coming  to 
Paris,  who  wiU  send  us  their  name,  we  will  see  if  we  can  keep  them 
from  drifting  in  that  direction. 

Mr.  Gheen  (Manchester)  -.  I  move  that  the  paper  read  by  Dr.  Fulton 
be  referred  to  the  executive  committee  called  to  meet  to-mon'ow 
morning,  and  that  Dr.  Fulton  be  invited  to  meet  them  there. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Hall  :  I  second  the  motion.  This  question,  touching 
as  it  does  international  interests  and  relations  and  many  delicate 
matters,  the  form  in  which  it  is  to  be  put  is  of  the  greatest  moment ; 
therefore,  I  hope  the  executive  will  carefully  consider  the  whole  matter. 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

The  session  was  closed  with  prayer  aijd  the  benediction. 


(     ^82     ) 


THIRD  DAY— SEVENTH  SESSION. 

Thursday  Morning,  Jult  4th. 

THE  WORK  IMPEOVED. 

THE  VALUE  OP  EXISTING  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ORGANI- 
ZATIONS. 

The  Pi-esideut  (Mr.  F.  F.  Belsey)   occupied  the  chair.     After  a  brief 
service  of  song  and  prayer, 

The  President  said  :  Before  we  proceed  to  the  business  of  the 
Convention  proper,  we  shall  be  happy  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  interval 
by  hearuig  any  remarks  brethren  may  have  to  offer  on  the  work  we 
have  been  doing.  A  dear  friend  from  Paris  who  was  interesting  iis  last 
night  with  some  observations  is,  I  believe,  wishful  to  submit  to  us  a 
resolution  bearmg  upon  a  very  important  Convention  to  be  held  in 
Paris,  in  connection  with  the  better  obsei'vance  of  the  Lord's  Day.  I 
suggest  that  we  iise  part  of  the  interval  in  listening  to  any  remarks 
Mr.  Ajiderson  may  have  to  make  to  us  on  the  subject. 

OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  LORD'S  DAY. 

By  Me.  Anderson  {Faris). 

I  attend  the  Convention  as  a  delegate  from  France,  bemg  a  member 
of  the  Sui^day  school  committee  there,  and  I  am  also  a  delegate  from 
American  Sunday  schools.  Q''herefore,  I  come  from  the  two  great 
Republics  of  the  world.  I  am  in  England,  the  land  of  my  ancestors, 
where  you  find  as  much  liberty,  equahty,  fraternity,  wi'itten  on  the 
hearts  of  eveiy  true  loyal  subject,  as  you  see  engraven  on  the  front  of 
public  buildings  in  France.  "We  are  assembled  here  as  people  above  all 
peoples,  as  belonging  to  the  kingdom  that  is  above  aU.  kingdoms — the 
people  of  God  and  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  "We  are  to  repi-esent  that, 
and  I  feel  it  to  be  the  greatest  honour  to  be  a  fellow-worker  in  this  great 
cause.  In  connection  with  that  great  cause  a  subject  came  up  last 
night  which  seems  to  have  the  widest  and  most  practical  bearing  of 
anything  brought  before  the  Convention,  viz.,  the  Observance  of  the 
Sunday  as  the  Lord's  Day.     There  is  no  help  for  a  Sunday  school  like 


Lord's  Daij  Ohscrvanre.  183 

that  of  liaviii^  a  Suiulay.  I  liavo  bciMi  appointed  a  dt-U'gate  to  a  con- 
Tt'iitiou  to  be  lu'lil  in  I'aris  i'or  (lie  piirjiose  of  brinn;iii(j  before  tlic 
country  and  the  worlil  tlie  necessity  of  reeogni/.inj;;  Sunday  as  tlie  Loi-d's 
Day  ;  and  I  should  Hke  to  be  able  to  convey  the  feeliiiir  of  the  World's 
Sunday  School  Convention  on  that  important  sidjject.  A  resolution 
will  be  brought  forward,  wliieli  no  doubt  will  meet  with  approval,  and 
wo  shall  be  helped  to  carry  on  the  work.  On  my  return  to  America 
two  years  ago,  I  noticed  a  decided  falling-off  in  the  observance  of 
Sunday.  The  lust  Sunday  I  spent  there  with  Mr.  David  Alexander, 
son  of  Dr.  Alexander,  with  whose  works  we  Sunday  school  workers  are 
no  doubt  familiar.  There  was  a  lawn  tennis  club,  and  as  we  were  coming 
from  church  we  saw  people  dressed  in  lawn-tennis  costume  playing  at 
the  game.  That  was  on  a  Sunday.  Public  opinion  would  not  have 
allowed  that  ten  years  ago  in  America.  Tlio  attempt  to  throw  open 
picture  galleries  and  n^useums  on  the  Lord's  Day  may  seem,  at  first,  a 
small  matter ;  but  it  is  the  thin  end  of  the  wedge,  which  may  be 
driven  right  against  one  of  the  Divine  commandments.  God  Ims  told 
us  to  reverence  the  Sabbath  Day.  I  do  not  see  how  we  are  to  get  the 
children  togetlior  to  teach  the  Sunday  school  lessons,  if  the  sacred  day 
is  broken  in  this  way.  In  France,  during  summer  months,  when  out- 
door sports  arc  possible,  and  are  indulged  in,  Sunday  schools  are 
frequently  closed.  These  facts  are  very  painful.  'Without  the  observance 
of  Sunday  it  is  impossible  to  carry  on  Sunday  school  work.  Thoi'cfore, 
I  say,  we  must  have  Sunday  for  the  Sunday  schools,  and  Sunday  schoola 
for  the  Sunday. 

The  PnESiDKNT  :  Mr.  Anderson  will  probably  submit  a  resolution 
in  the  sense  of  the  speech  we  have  just  heard  for  the  consideration  of 
the  executive  committee  at  the  proper  time.* 

Mr.  HiTCncoC'ic  {Australia)  :  We  are  fighting  this  same  battle  of  the 
Sabbath  in  Australia,  where  mauy  people  will  not  recognize  Sunday 
from  a  religious  point  of  view.  In  order  to  inlluence  these  persons,  it 
appears  to  me  that  we  must  keep  prominentlj-  before  them  the  idea 
that  the  Sabbath  is  a  day  of  rest.  Even  secularists  will  admit  the  force 
of  the  plea — a  day  of  rest  from  labour.  As  Christian  people  and 
Christian  workers,  we  have,  many  of  us,  grievously  sinned  by  vising 
railways  and  tramcars  on  the  Lord's  Day.  "Wherever  we  have  advocated 
this  question  of  Sabbath  observance,  that  inconsistency  has  been  thrown 
in  our  teeth  to  the  great  detriment  of  om'  action.  Let  us,  who  ai"e  in 
this  Sunday  School  Convention,  be  faithful  in  this  particular,  and  make 
up  our  minds  never  to  do  any  unnecessary  work  on  the  Sunday,  and 
never  to  do  any  travelling  on  the  Lord's  Day.  We  find  that,  on  the 
outside  public,  example  has  greater  influence  than  precept.  Fidly  con- 
vince the  people,  whether  Christians  or  not,  of  the  wisdom  and  advan- 
tage of  Sunday  as  a  day  of  rest,  and,  depend  upon  it,  we  shall  then  do 

*  See  Appendix  for  resolution  ultimately  adopted. 


184     The   Value  of  existing  Sunday  School  Organizations, 

away  with  a  large  amount  of  the  jSabbath  desecration  ■which  we  now  so 
much  deplore. 

Mr.  GepiiaRT  (Pennsylvania)  :  One  of  the  things  we  find  necessary 
in  our  country  in  order  to  make  the  Sunday  school  attractive  is  to  pro- 
vide a  comfortable  building  in  which  to  hold  the  school.  For  our 
school  we  have  a  better  building  than  we  have  for  the  church.  The 
result  is  that  the  children  like  to  come  to  the  school.  I  believe  that  is 
also  the  case  with  the  Bethany  Sunday  school  in  Philadelphia,  which  is 
one  of  the  largest  schools  in  the  United  States.  They  have  a  large 
comfortable  building  on  the  first  floor,  adjoining  the  chui'ch  ;  it  is 
nicely  lighted,  comfortably  seated,  and  attractive  in  every  sense  of  the 
word ;  so  that  children  dehght  to  come  there.  I  beheve  tlie  lack  of 
comfort  is  one  of  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  schools  in  England,  if 
there  are  any  obstacles.  I  went  to  several  in  Liverpool,  and  noticed 
how  unattractive  they  were.  I  am  satisfied  that  proper  attention  to 
such  matters  would  advance  the  attendance  one  half.  One  of  the  ques- 
tions, therefore,  we  have  to  study  is  how  to  make  the  place  so  attractive 
to  the  children  that  we  shall  not  be  able  to  keep  them  away.  Money 
would  be  well  spent  on  improvements  in  that  dii'cction. 

Mr.  Sawyer  {BrigMon)  -.  I  rise  to  speak  to  one  point,  and  that  is 
the  persistency  with  which  we,  as  Sunday  school  teachers,  should  keep 
up  a  work  we  have  once  begun.  I  am  led  to  offer  that  remark  by  the 
appearance  of  a  map  of  New  Jersey  hanging  at  this  moment  in  front  of 
the  gallery  of  this  hall.  Born  at  Brighton,  I  continued  there,  as  a 
teacher,  for  several  years,  and  afterwards  as  superintendent.  In  God's 
providence  I  went  to  a  certain  part  of  New  Jersey.  I  was  on  a  farm 
with  my  father,  which  he  had  purchased.  I  found  no  Sunday  school 
there,  nor  near.  I  felt  it  was  not  right,  and  so  I  begged  the  loan  of  the 
old  school-house,  near  to  the  farm.  I  gathered  teachers  and  scholars, 
and  then  the  library.  In  God's  providence,  I  afterwards  moved  to 
New  York,  and  thei-e  continued  as  a  superintendent  vmtil  I  left  America, 
and  retm-ned  to  Brighton,  where  I  have  remained  connected  with  Sunday 
school  work  now  for  forty-fo\u'  years  :  and  now  I  have  been  asked  to 
be  president  of  the  Brighton  Sunday  School  Union,  which  office  I  have 
very  willingly  accepted.  My  point  is,  wherever  we  go,  let  us  be  at  work 
for  the  Master  ;  for,  no  matter  whether  we  be  sent  hither  or  thither.  He 
is  sure  to  find  us  something  to  do. 

EXAMINATIONS  FOR  TEACHEES  AND  SCHOLARS. 

By  Rev.  T.  W.  Holmes  {Sheffield). 

For  many  years  it  has  been  my  pleasant  but  laborious  duty  to  examine 
a  great  number  of  papers  in  connection  with  the  Sheffield  Sunday  School 
Union  Exammations.  These  examinations,  which  are  divided  into  junior, 
middle,  and  senior  divisions,  are  very  popular  in  Sheffield.  It  is  of  my 
experience  in  connection  with  the  last  of  the  three  divisions  of  which  I 


Ej:aiHlnation3  for  Teachers  and  Scholars.  185 

am  going  to  spciik.    You  will  remember  the  saying  of  Jean  Paul  Ricliter, 
that  every  man's  opinions  about  education  would  be  valuable  if  he  only 
wrote  what  ho  did  not  copy.     The  principal,  I  should  perhaps  say  tho 
only,  value  of  what  I  have  to  submit  to  the  Contention  is  derived  from 
the  fact   that   it   is    the  result  of  my  own  experience.     When  some 
thirteen  years  ago  I  had  a  bundle  of  the  senior  examination  papers  to 
go  through,  I  was  struck  with  the  pathetic  ungainliuess  of  the  hand- 
writing.    It   told  of  limited  o])portunities  of  education,  and  of  dis- 
heartenmg  difficulties  resolutely  overcome.     It  revealed  also  the  fact 
that  the  examinations  had  awakened  an  immediate  interest  in  the  very 
people  we  expected  to  reach  last.     Gradually,  as  years  went  on,  the 
influence   of  the   improvement   in   general   education   caused   by  the 
development  of  the  Board  school  system  made  itself  felt.    The  old  style 
of  handwriting  became  almost  a  curiosity.     It  became  plain  that  the 
earliest  papers  had  just  caught  and  retauied  the  impression  of  a  vanish- 
ing era.     The  later  ones  bore  traces  of  the  arrival  of  a  better  educational 
epoch.     But  it  was  not  all  gain.     If  we  missed  the  cramped  mechanic 
style  of  writing,  we  missed  something  else  also,  and  not  without  regret. 
In  the  early  days  the  answers  were  often  as  quaint,  original,  and  un- 
conventional as  the  penmanship  itself.     There  had  been  flashes  of  a 
homely  wit,  outshining  a   rare   gift   of  hxunoiu-,  worthy  of  President 
Lincohi  himself.     The  replies  in  those  primeval  papers  were  the  ripe 
fruit  of  the  devout  but  uncultured  imagination,  as  little  artificial  as  the 
blackberries  that  grow  on  our  yet  unenclosed  English  commons,  or  the 
wild  roses  of  our  untrimmed  but  picturesque  hedgerows  ;  such  proofs  of 
original  thinking    became  gradually  and  noticeably  more  rare.     You 
have  all  seen  the  specimens  of  handwriting  that  hang  at  the  door  of  the 
counti'y  writing-master  who  takes  private  students :  "  This  is  a  speci- 
men of  my  handwritmg  before  taking  lessons."     This  formula  is  signed 
by  a  number  of  pupils.     Each  signature  is  usually  as  fidl  of  character 
as  the  autograph  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     Afterwards  come  a  number  of 
specimens  of  "  our  handwriting "  after  the  receipt  of  ten  lessons,  aU 
faultless  and  all  alike.    The  thick  strokes  all  swell  out  at  the  same  spot, 
and  the  hair  strokes  all  slope  forward  at  the  same  angle,  but  all  ti-ace 
of  individual   character   has    vanished.      Now,    since    Sunday   school 
examinations  have  entered  upon  the  era  of  little  text-books,  individuality 
in  the  answers  has  displayed  a  lamentable  tendency  to  vanish. 

There  has  been  the  usual  result  of  the  temptation  to  cram  when  the 
opportunity  has  presented  itself  to  the  yoimg  teacher  and  the  yomiger 
student.  There  is  now  more  mere  memory  work,  more  imiform  repeti- 
tion of  the  same  phrases  than  in  the  earlier  times.  There  is  more 
accuracy  within  certain  defined  limits,  but  there  is  less  evidence  of  the 
working  of  the  individual  mind,  less  stirring  of  the  imagination  and 
qvuckening  of  the  thoughts  of  the  students  themselves.  There  is  now 
little  or  none  of  that  homely,  if  sometimes  far-fetched,  speculation  which 
showed  that  the  student's  mind  was  at  work.  There  is  too  often  nothing 
far-fetched— not  farther  than  the  nearest,  ov  cheapest,  or  most  highly 


]8G     The   Value  of  existing  Sundaij  School  Organizalions. 

recommended  text-book.  Now,  I  do  thii-.k  om-  gifted  brethren,  who  are 
continually  producing  text-books  that  bring  into  smaller  and  j'et 
smaller  compass  the  amount  of  information  reqiiired  by  the  student  to 
enable  him  to  answer  the  questions  set,  might  let  us  alone  for  a  Httle 
while.  At  any  rate,  they  might  leave  lis  a  little  more  dependent  on  the 
study  of  the  original  text-books  themselves,  whose  existence  seems  too 
often  to  be  forgotten.  I  am  often  asked  for  example,  "  Where  can  I  find 
the  best  handbook  on  Christian  doctrine  ?  "  by  anxious  mquh-ers,  to 
whom  I  usually  reply  by  recommending  a  little  work  published  in 
England  for  Id.  called  the  New  Testament.  To  other  friends  who  ask 
my  advice  as  to  obtaining  a  convenient  text-book  on  Early  Chm*ch 
History  I  generally  recommend  a  little  work  called  The  Acts  of  the 
Aj)ostIes.  My  fi-ieuds,  I  notice,  often  seem  astonished  that  they  had 
overlooked  these  pubhcations. 

By  this  almost  universal  use  of  text-books  the  answers,  which  are  in 
the  very  language  of  these  labour-saving  manuals,  present  a  uniformity 
wlxich  reveals  little  concenaiiig  the  student  except  his  possession  of  a 
good  memory,  and  nothing  of  his  teachers  beyond  a  faithful  and  uude- 
■('iating  adherence  to  his  text-book.  The  memory,  it  is  true,  is  crammed 
with  facts,  often  rootless  and  but  slightly  adhesive,  for  there  is  no 
evidence  that  the  facts  have  stirred  the  imagination  or  q\iickened  the 
heart.     There  is  no  spontaneity. 

I  have  seen  iu  oue  of  our  provincial  workhouses  a  mechanical  arrange- 
ment for  the  musical  accompaniment  of  pauper  psalmody.  It  consists 
of  a  box,  with  a  slit  on  one  side  and  a  handle  on  the  other.  In  the  slit 
are  pushed  pieces  of  cardboard  with  holes  in  them.  Then  the  handle 
is  tm-ned  by  the  presiding,  and  generally  very  melancholy-looking, 
pauper.  Something,  supposed  to  be  music,  comes  out  when  the  handle 
revolves. 

The  cards  are  perforated  by  a  machine  wliich  at  a  blow  can  as  easily 
perforate  fifty  as  one.  It  is  very  expeditious  and  very  economical,  but 
it  has  one  di'awback,  the  music  is  execrable. 

We  are  in  peril  of  approaching  the  poverty  produced  by  the  skill  dis- 
played in  the  method  of  perforating  cardboard  by  the  ahnost  exclusive  use 
of  text-books,  which  leave  nothing  for  the  personal  influence  of  the  teacher 
in  the  instruction,  nor  any  room  for  the  play  of  the  student's  own 
mind.  This  is  oiu'  rock  ahead.  What  we  should  seek  is  not  the  pro- 
duction of  an  artificial  memory,  out  of  which  the  facts  shp  away  for 
ever  after  a  few  months,  but  an  intelligent  acquamtance  with  the  Scrip- 
tures that  will  enrich  the  whole  futiu-e  life  of  the  student.  All  we  ask 
for,  therefore,  is  to  be  severely  let  alone  for  a  while  by  those  very  clever 
and  well-meanmg  brethren  who  are  endowed  with  an  almost  super- 
natural facility  and  fecundity  of  mind  for  producing  manuals,  hand- 
books, and  helps. 

The  result  of  the  examinations  has  been  conspicuously  manifest  in 
two  du-ections.     The  numbers  who  failed  in  the  earlier  years  of  their 


Exarnhuillons  fur  Tcaclicra  and  Scholars.  187 

institiitiou  made  thouglitfiil  teaclicrs  concerned  and  anxious  as  to  tho 
quality  of  tlie  instruction  gi^cn,  and  their  failures  tended  to  inspire 
the  pursuit  of  plainness,  directness,  and  lucidity  in  the  teaching. 

It  lifted  almost  immediately  tho  standard  of  teaching  in  the  Sunday- 
Bchools  bj'  revealing  its  previous  unsuspected  weakness  and  defects.  So 
far  as  tho  students  themselves  are  concerned,  it  awoke  in  the  more 
thoughtful  of  them  an  interest  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  they  had  not 
]-)rcviously  felt.  Books  on  Palestine,  Egypt,  and  the  Gospels  -were 
sought  for  and  eagerly  read,  and  the  httle  sketches  that  have  adorned 
the  margin  of  many  a  set  of  papers  prove  how  firmly  and  accm-ately  the 
locahties  had  become  impressed  on  the  memory  of  the  best  studciits.  I 
can  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  good  accomplished  by  these 
examinations. 

They  have  had  some  imexpected  results.  In  my  neighbourhood 
they  hare  put  down  the  mighty  from  then-  seats,  and  exalted  those 
of  low  degree.  The  chief  honours  have  been  carried  away  by  a 
village  school  some  nine  or  ten  miles  from  Sheffield,  where  the  people 
are  without  any  of  those  aids  to  cultm-e  in  the  shape  of  free  libraries, 
athensBums,  and  music  halls,  which  leave  so  many  people  fools. 

There,  where  the  scholars  have  to  tramp  through  dark  and  noii-y  lanes 
in  the  winter  time,  the  work  of  preparation  has  been  done  so  well  that  for 
sevei-al  years  the  school  has  won  the  "  blue  ribbon  "  of  the  examination, 
namely,  a  certificate  that  it  stands  at  the  head  of  all  competitors.  I 
have  only  been  able  to  speak  in  the  broadest  outline,  but  I  am  glad  to 
have  been  permitted  to  commend  these  examinations  to  so  large  and 
representative  an  assembly  of  fellow-teachers  from  all  parts  of  tho 
world. 

In  this  Conyention  we  meet  to  help  each  other.  We  have  no  other 
rivah-y,  and  the  presence  of  so  many  of  om-  kin  from  beyond  the  sea, 
generously  bringing  us  their  latest  suggestions  and  experiences,  reminds 
me  of  a  lovely  old  Jewish  story  of  two  brothers. 

It  is  said  that  then-  father,  when  dymg,  divided  his  land  betwixt  hia 
two  sons,  and  that  about  a  year  after  his  death  one  of  the  brothers, 
wallcing  with  a  grateful  heart  in  harvest  time  across  his  own  land,  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  his  brother's  sheaves  were  neither  so  uiuuerous 
nor  so  heavy  as  his  own.  He  was  not  aware  that  his  younger  brother 
had  clone  the  very  same  thing,  and  had  come  to  exactly  the  same  con- 
clusion. The  next  night  the  elder  of  the  men  went  to  his  own  field, 
and,  puttmg  a  bundle  of  the  ripest  and  finest  sheaves  on  his  shoulders, 
started  for  his  brother's  field,  to  put  them,  as  he  hoped,  unobserved 
among  the  other  sheaves  that  stood  there  in  the  solemn  and  beautifu 
moonlight.  As  he  passed  down  the  lane  with  his  head  bent  mider  his 
bm'den,  he  suddenly  ran  against  somebody  also  carrying  a  burden  up 
the  lane.  The  two  biu-deu-bearers  staggered  back  a  pace  or  two  through 
the  collision,  and  di'opped  their  sheaves.  Then  the  brothers  looked 
into  each  other's  faces  and  discovered  thut  each  was  doing  the  same 


188      The   Value  of  c;cistln(j  Sundcuj  School  Orrjanizalions. 

thing,  and  lliat  each  had  been  moved  by  thf  same  generous  spirit,  Ilere 
Ave  meet  also  as  brethren — the  elder  and  liome-stajing  brother  -with  his 
homely  wit,  and  the  younger  -with  his  delightful  vivacity  and  youthful 
freshness  ;  and  in  this  Conventioii  we  pause  and  put  do\ni  the  burden 
of  the  sheaves  ve  are  carrying  each  to  enrich  his  brother's  harvest, 
My  contribution  is  not  a  sheaf,  but  only  fi  gleaner's  modest  but  honestly 
acquii-ed  haudfvil. 


NORMAL  AND  TRAINING  CLASSES. 
3j/Mn.  W.  H.  Geosek,  B.Sc.  {Londo7i). 

Each  epoch  of  human  progress  appears  to  be  characterized  by  the  up- 
sprhiging  of  great  questions,  theoretical  or  practical,  "wliich  assert  their 
claims  to  an  immediate  and  satisfactory  answer,  and  which  absorb  for  a 
tune  the  chief  thought  and  interest  of  the  public.  It  is  so  in  the  realms 
of  science,  poUtics,  philanthropy,  and  religion,  as  eveiy  diligent  student 
of  history  well  knows.  It  is  not  needful,  however,  to  supply  illustrations 
from  spheres  outside  our  own  department  of  Christian  thought  and 
action.  The  Evangelical  revival  of  the  ISth  centm'y  pressed  home  upon 
the  consciences  of  Englishmen  the  gi'eat  question  of  the  Eelation  of  the 
Clim-ch  of  Clu-ist  to  the  "World  around  it,  with  a  force  and  directness 
which  coidd  not  be  evaded  ;  and  no  aspect  of  that  question  excelled  ii; 
breadth  ov  importance  that  which  was  represented  by  the  iuquii-y, 

"  WHO   SHALL  TEACH   THE   CHILDREN  ?  " 

The  answer  was  furnished  by  the  Chi'istian  zeal  and  intelligent  phi- 
lanthropy of  Eaikes  and  his  early  coadjutors.  The  modern  Sunday 
school,  at  first  somewhat  amorphous,  ciystallized  in  the  com-se  of  a  few 
years  into  the  form  in  which  we  see  it,  that  of  associated  "  groups  "  or 
"  classes  "  in  one  organization,  combuiiug  happily  the  advantage  of  both 
the  collective  and  the  individual  systems  of  instruction.  Its  outward 
aspect  has  thus  i-emained  vmchanged  ;  but  its  inward  development  has 
been  great  and  salutary.  Originating  as  an  eleemosynary — one  might 
even  say  a  remedial — agency  for  the  suppression  and  correction  of 
juvenile  ignorance  and  imgodlmess,  it  has  by  slow  degrees  obtained  its 
rightful  position  as  the  Church's  chosen  mission  to  the  yomig,  irre- 
spective of  all  social  distinctions — amission  parental  and  educational, 
as  well  as  Evangehstic,  and  limited  by  no  conventional  barriers  what- 
ever A  few  of  the  pioneers  of  the  enterprise  discerned  this  capabihty 
from  afar ;  but  the  Church  of  Chi-ist  m  England  (though  not  in  the 
principahty  of  Wales)  has  been  disastrously  slow  to  learn  the  lesson. 
The  aroma  of  pubhc  charity  which  sm-rounded  the  cradle  of  the  Enghsh 
Sunday  school  still  affects,  with  the  pertinacity  of  hay  fever,  the  sensi- 
bilities of  not  a  few  good  Christian  people.     They  are  able  to  detept  a 


I^nnnal  and   Traininr/   Classes.  180 

ti'acc  of  pi'iinitivc  raguiuuHiuisin  in  tlic  most  advanced  of  19th  century 
Sunday  schools. 

"You  may  break,  you  may  sliattcr  the  vase,  if  you   will; 
But  the  scout — iiot  of  roses — will  cling  to  it  still." 

So  tliey  manifest  their  sympathy  with  this  benevolciil  work  by  a  very 
modest  annual  subscription,  a  bland  attendance  at  the  Anniversary 
Sermons,  and  a  systematic  absenteeism,  on  the  part  of  themselves  and 
their  children,  from  the  sphere  of  the  "  benevolent  work,"  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  Across  the  Atlantic,  and  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  and  in  those  distant  colonics  more  recently  founded  by  our 
kith  and  kin,  the  escutcheon  of  the  Sunday  school  bears  no  bar  sinister, 
nnd  no  shadow  has  fallen  on  the  promise  of  its  lusty  youth.  For  the 
future  of  each  and  all  we  have  no  fear :  "  lie  that  belicveth  shall  not 
make  haste." 

About  half  a  century  rolled  by  before  a  second  question,  the  correlate 
of  the  fii'st,  came  prominently  to  the  front  in  the  world  of  l-eligious 
education.  Logically  regarded,  it  ought  to  have  taken  precedence  of  the 
former,  for  it  propomided  the  inquiry, 

"  WHO   SUALL  TEACU   THE   TJ3ACllEltS  ?  " 

But  human  progress  moves  not  by  way  of  syllogism,  and  it  is  a  notd- 
■worthy  fact,  though  time  forbids  our  enlarging  upon  it,  that  at  each 
stage  the  secular  movement  followed  rather  than  prou)pted  the  religious 
one. 

Confining  ourselves,  therefore,  within  the  narrow  limits  of  our 
allotted  theme,  we  may  record  that  the  first  definite  attempt  to  organize 
a  plan  of  instruction  for  Sunday  school  teachers  was  on  the  "  mutual  '* 
principle,  and  took  shape  as  a  "  Prej^araiioii  Class,"  just  forty  years 
ago.  It  assembled  weekly  in  the  then  committee-room  of  the  Sunday 
School  Union,  60,  Paternoster  Row,  under  the  presidency  of  its  earnest 
and  devoted  originator,  the  late  Francis  Cuthbertson,  an  active  and 
useful  member  of  the  committee.  Tlus  representative  association  of 
teachers  became,  during  the  first  seven  years  of  its  existence,  the  pai-ent 
and  pattern  of  many  others,  all  established,  though  under  slightly 
diflercnt  names,  on  the  principle  of  allotted  departments  to  different 
members,  and  a  mutual  communication  of  the  knowledge  thus  acquired, 
the  lesson  for  the  succeeding  Lord's  Day  afternoon,  as  found  in  the 
Union  "List  of  Lessons,"  forming  the  invariable  subject  of  considera- 
tion. The  simplicity  and  flexibility  of  the  scheme,  and  its  direct  con- 
nection with  each  returning  Sabbath's  labours  led  to  its  speedy  trans- 
plantation across  the  Atlantic,  as  well  as  to  the  Continent  of  Eurojie  and 
the  British  Colonies,  while  its  vitality  has  stood  the  test  of  forty  years ; 
so  that  one  might  hazard  the  conjecture,  in  the  absence  of  complete 
statistics,  that  of  existing  classes,  designed  in  various  ways  to  fit  Sunday 
school  teachers  for  their  work,  three-fourths  would  be  found  to  follow. 


190      jf^/it'   Value  of  existing  Sandcuj  School  Organizations. 

more  or  less  closely,  the  Cuthbertsonian  type,  while  of  these  some  have 
attained  a  magnitude  and  Tigom*  vindreamt  of  in  the  old  rooms  at 
Paternoster  Row.  Thus  arose  the  modest  association  known  to  EngUsh 
teachers  as 

THE   "  rEEtAllATlOX   CLASS." 

Its  adoption  by  many  local  unions  and  individual  schools  brought 
prommently  into  view  both  its  advantages  and  its  defects.  Among  the 
latter  it  was  observed  that,  while  admirably  adapted  to  furnish  attend- 
ing teachers  with  Scripture  facts,  doctrines,  and  practical  lessons,  it 
gave  but  little  help  in  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  the  raw  material 
thus  gathered. 

A  diligent  member  of  such  a  class  wotdd,  like  King  David  of  old, 
accumulate  no  little  store  for  a  building  yet  to  be  erected  ;  but  it 
seemed  to  need  a  Solomon  to  design  the  sacred  edifice,  and  rear  it  on 
high,  fi'om  the  foundation  to  the  top  stone.  Thus  far  no  Sunday  school 
Solomon  seems  to  have  arisen  ;  but  in  the  fall  of  the  year  185G  several 
appeared  contempoi'aneously  in  Pimlico — then  a  semi-nu-al  subtirb  of 
south-west  London.  While  heartily  approving  of  the  collection  of 
Bibhcal  material  at  the  weekly  meetings  of  a  preparation  class,  they 
averred  that  in  theu- judgment  more  yoiuig  and  inexperienced  teachers 
failed  through  ignorance  of  method  than  through  lack  of  Scripture 
knowledge.  To  remedy  this  defect,  they  proposed  to  give  demonstra- 
tions of  teaching  by  means  of  oral  lessons  in  public  to  actual  classes  of 
Sunday  scholars.  "With  the  assistance  of  several  able  and  earnest 
members  of  the  Westmmster  Traming  College  in  the  neighbourhood,  an 
extremely  valuable  course  of  meetings  was  arranged  for  and  excited 
deserved  and  continued  mterest.  The  actual  lessons  given  were  in 
many  cases  made  the  subjects  of  friendly  criticism  by  the  other  members 
to  the  benefit  of  all  concerned,  and  alternating  with  these  were  lectures 
and  addresses  on  Bibhcal  and  educational  topics.  The  founder  of 
this  movement  was  the  late  estimable  Eichard  J.  Brand,  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Parent  Committee.  Another  stage  in  Sunday 
school  progress  had  thus  been  reached  by  the  establishment  of  the 
first 

TEA1N1K&  Class 
for  teackei's. 

The  next  step  that  suggested  itself  was  the  Unioii  of  the  two  Objects-^' 
the  gathering  and  distribution  of  material  and  the  acquisition  of  right 
methods — in  one  organization.  This  was  proposed,  and  a  rough  outline 
sketched,  by  the  father  of  the  jDresent  writer,  in  a  paper  written  for  a! 
local  conference  in  the  year  1857.  The  Committee  adopted  the  sugges- 
tions of  their  colleagvie — then  and  for  many  years  after  one  of  the  secre- 
taries of  the  Union,  and  determined  to  estabUsh  a  composite  class,  in! 
which,  as  the  prospectiis  stated,  "a  com-se  of  training  in  the  theory 
and  practice  of  teaching  "  should  "  be  combined  with  special  prepa- 


Normal  and  Tra'inintj  Classes.  191 

ration  of  Sunday  school  iossons."  Accortlinglj,  a  preparation  class 
was  held  once  a  montli,  while  demonstrations  of  teaching,  lectures, 
written  sketches  of  Bible  lessons,  and  other  kinch'cd  topics,  occupied  the 
other  evenings  of  meeting. 

So  fully  had  this  form  of  teacher-training  commended  itself  to  mctro- 
pohtan  teachers,  that  this  Class  has  continued  to  be  held  with  scarcely  any 
intermission  until  the  present  time,  and  has  reproduced  itself  in  various 
other  localities  in  town  and  country. 

It  may  be  noted  as  an  interesting  fact  that  tliese  classes  attracted  the 
special  notice,  and  won  the  enthusiastic  support,  of  the  late  Mr.  K.  G. 
Pardee,  the  worthy  representative  of  the  New  York  Sunday  School 
Union,  and  by  his  earnest  advocacy  the  movement  was  brought  under 
the  notice  of  many  workers  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Shortly 
after  this,  the  first  permanent  American  training  class  was  commenced 
in  Chicago  by  our  lughly  esteemed  friend  and  co-worker,  the  Rev.  (now 
Bishop)  J.  H.  Vincent,  whose  active  and  fi-uitful  mind  expanded  and 
elaboi'ated  the  engagements  suitable  for  such  an  organization  in  a 
degree  surprising  to  slow-thinking  Englishmen.  For  example,  I  need 
only  refer  to  his  vohime  entitled  "Sunday  School  Institutes  and  Normal 
(or  Trainiug)  Classes,"'  published  in  New  York  by  Carlton  &  Lanahan 
in  1872. 

Vai'ious  efforts  have  also  been  made  by  Dr.  Yiucent  and  other  lead- 
ing workers  in  the  United  States,  and  by  some  members  of  the  Sunday 
School  Union  Committee  m  England,  to  render  training  class  exer- 
cises more  definite  and  systematic  by  providuig  limited  courses  of 
lectures,  lessons,  and  conversations,  extending  over  the  whiter  months  of 
one,  two,  or  three  successive  years,  so  as  to  give  a  somewhat  connected 
view  of  the  chief  Biblical  and  educational  facts  and  principles  important 
for  the  mental  fmniitm'e  of  the  teacher ;  and  in  some  of  these  a  full 
measvu'e  of  success  had  been  attained.  It  miist  be  regi'etfully  confessed, 
however,  that  here,  as  in  so  many  other  cases,  those  who  most  need  the 
proffered  aid  are  tlie  least  conscious  of  their  own  deficiencies,  and  the 
least  ready  to  avail  themselves  of  its  benefits. 

A  yet  fm'ther  stage  m  the  work  of  associated  training  was  reached  in 
tliis  country  about  the  year  1862  and  in  America  some  five  years  carher, 
the  two  movements  being  quite  independent  in  origin  and  dill'ermg 
somewhat  in  plan  and  detail.     I  refer  to  the 

NOEMAl  C1AS9 

scheme  as  outlined  by  Dr.  Yiucent,  in  the  little  work  already  quoted, 
and  by  the  present  writer  in  a  pamphlet  called  "  The  Introductoiy 
Class,"  the  name  fh-st  proposed  by  way  of  distinction  from  those  above 
mentioned.  Origmally  designed  to  take  such  scholars  from  the  senior 
departments  of  om*  Sunday  schools  and  yoimg  persons  fi-om  our  congre- 
gations as  were  willing  and  desu-ous  to  engage  iu  Sabbath  teaching,  and 
to  prepare  them,  in  respect  to  both  matter  and  method,  before  entering 


192      The   Valde  of  existing  Sandcli/  School  Organizations. 

upon  tlie  work,  it  was  fondly  hoped,  at  least  by  the  Enghsh  proposer,  that 
a  panacea  had  been  discovered  for  the  only  too  coraiuou  evil  of  imper- 
fectly furnished  teachers.  Take  them  hi  hand,  it  was  urged,  before 
they  have  encountered  the  difficulties  of  the  work,  instruct  them  in 
the  what  and  the  how,  and  you  will  save  them  from  many  un- 
toward blunders  and  many  bitter  disappointments,  and  preserve  for 
long  and  usefid  labour  some  who  woidd  have  retired  m  failure  and 
chagi'in. 

Experience  has  shown  that  it  is  easier  to  originate  an  educational 
idea  than  to  make  it  germinate  in  the  minds  of  others.  A  thought,  like 
a  seed,  demands  many  favouring  conditions  for  its  development,  and  in 
this  country  some  such  conditions  have  been  found  ;  but  here  and  there 
superintendents,  not  always  the  most  receptive  or  far-siglited  of  men 
(I  speak  as  one  of  them)  have  looked  but  coldly  on  a  plan,  which  seemed 
to  delay  the  thi-usting  of  youths  and  maidens  into  positions  for  which 
they  were  but  imperfectly  prepared,  but  which  the  exigencies  of  the 
school  demanded  should  be  occupied  by  somebody  !  Some  senior  class 
teachers  have  opposed  the  scheme  on  the  ground  that  their  scholars 
were  learning  to  teach  while  imder  their  care,  forgetting  that  the 
methods,  as  well  as  the  matter,  must  needs  differ  •with  pupils  of  widely 
diffei'ent  ages  and  attahiments.  And  thus  the  Normal  Class  movement 
had  to  be  so  broadened  in  its  aims  as  to  include  actual  teachers  as  well 
as  intending  ones,  and  it  is  seldom  that  a  single  school  is  able  to 
maintain  such  a  class  withoiit  such  expansion.  In  this  combined  form, 
however,  some  good  and  successful  work  has  been  done  during  the  past 
twenty  years  in  giving  hmited  but  systematic  courses  of  instruction  to 
teachers  and  senior  scholars.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  mention  the  names  of 
Mr.  Gougli  of  Bristol,  the  late  Mr.  B.  Pask,  of  the  London  committee, 
and  our  able  friend  and  colleague  Mr.  Alfi-ed  Sindall,  whose  Normal 
Class,  meethig  weekly  durmg  the  winter  montlis  in  the  Lectiure  Hall, 
Old  Bailey,  has  been  attended  with  gratifying  success  and  annually 
extending  iisefulness. 

I  am  not  at  all  sure  that  I  shall  not  trespass  beyond  my  province,  if 
I  refer  to  any  modes  of  teacher  trainuig  which  are  not  of  the  collective 
and  associated  kind.  In  justice,  however,  to  my  colleagues,  I  must  just 
ventm-e  to  state  that,  in  view  of  the  still  inadequate  attendance  on  the 
part  of  English  teachers  in  general,  at  preparation  training,  or  normal 
classes,  the  committee  have  carried  on  for  several  years  a  system  designed 
to  promote  private  study  where  no  such  classes  exist.  It  bears  the  title 
of  the 

"koemal  students'  association," 

and  encourages  and  directs  teachers  in  short  coui'ses  of  reading;  certain 
text-books  on  Biblical  subjects,  and  on  tlie  principles  and  art  of  teach» 
ing  being  supplied  at  a  small  expense.  Sets  of  questions  on  these  works 
are  supplied  to  students,  to  which  answers  ai'e  sent  in  writmg  to  an 
appointed  examiner,  by  whom  certificates  aro  awal'dod  at  the  close  of 


Normnl  and  Trainintj  Chisties.  lii.j 

each  poui'so,     Tlio  iiiiivi'iucnt  is  one  whicli  dcsorvcs  cxvvy  en'-oiirago 
iiicnt. 

To  tlio  „ 

COERESPONDEXCE   CLASSES 

in  Greek  and  Hebrew, as  to  those  held  on  the  premises  of  tlie  Union  for  the 
oral  teaching  of  these  languages,  I  can  do  no  more  tlian  give  this  passing 
reference,  as  evidence  of  continued  progress  on  the  part  of  the  committee 
of  the  Sunday  School  Union  in  the  endeavom-  to  answer  the  question 
which  was  adverted  to  at  the  beginning, "  Wlio  shall  teach  the  teachers?  " 
I  know  no  valid  reason  why  such  classes  as  we  have  just  tried  to 
sketch,  meeting  for  a  comparatively  brief  period,  and  occupying  them- 
selves with  a  limited  but  definite  and  systematic  course  of  study,  should 
not  be  established  wherever  the  desire  for  help  exists.  Professors,  pas- 
tors, and  trained  teachers  in  public  and  private  scliools,  are  found  both 
able  and  wilhng  to  distribute  of  their  stores  of  knowledge,  Biblical  and 
educational,  of  which  most  encouraging  proofs  have  been  given  during 
the  last  few  winters  in  various  parts  of  the  metropolis.  The  real  need 
is  a  deeper  conviction  on  the  part  of  Christ's  disciples  that  they  are  not 
only  permitted,  but  solemnly  bound  to  give  the  best  of  their  knowledge 
and  tlie  best  of  their  skill,  intelligence,  and  self-diseiphne  to  whatever 
work  they  attempt  in  His  name.  There  is  too  much  of  base  metal, 
even  yet,  in  the  temple  furnitui'e.  What  is  called  for  everywhere  among 
Christian  men  and  women  is  a  nobler  conception  of  Christian  service, 
and  among  our  fellow  workers  and  ourselves,  a  loftier  elevation  of  "  the 
Sunday  sdiool  idea."  Without  these  our  wisest  plans  are  mere  words, 
and  our  most  finished  organizations  inoperative.  "  More  light !  "  was 
the  prayer  of  the  German  poet-philosopher  as  he  neared  the  eternal 
world ;  "  More  light  I  "  should  be  the  daily  and  hourly  prayer  of  every 
toiler  in  Christ's  kingdom,  whose  poems  are  little  clukken,  and  whose 
phijosopliy  finds  its  centre  in  the  Gross. 

"  Darkling  our  good  forefathers  went 

The  first  steps  of  the  way, 
'Twas  but  the  dawning  yet  to  grow 

Into  the  perfect  day. 
And  grow  it  shall ;  our  glorious  Sun 

More  fervid  rays  afibrd ; 
The  Lord  hath  yet  more  light  and  truth 

To  break  forth  from  His  Word. 

"  0  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  send 

Us  increase  from  above  ; 
Enlarge,  expand  all  Christian  souls 

To  comprehend  thy  love ; 
And  make  us  to  go  on  to  k'low, 

With  nobler  power?  conferred. 
The  Lord  hath  yet  more  light  and  trnlh 

To  broak  fcith  fiom  His  V/ord.'' 


194      The   Value  of  existing  Sandaij  ScJiool  Organizations. 

The  Phesident  :  At  the  meeting  last  night  a  resolution  was  passed, 
asking  the  exeeutivc  committee  to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the  crowned 
heads  of  Europe  from  this  Convention  setting  forth  the  evil  effects  of 
non-observance  of  the  Sabbath  in  their  dominions. 

Tlie  Eev.  Dr.  Hall  read  the  memorial  prepared  by  the  e^eoutivo 
committee,  which,  after  a  brief  discussion  as  to  some  words  and  phrases, 
was  unanimously  adopted.* 

At  the  request  of  the  President,  Dr.  Hall  led  the  meethig  in  prayer 
for  God's  blessing  on  the  memorial.  After  the  siwgiug  of  a  hymn,  the 
next  paper  read  was  on 


PAID  AND  VOLUNTARY  SUNDAY  SCHOOIj 
MISSIONARIES. 

£^  Mr.  BosTOK  W.  Smith  (Minneapolis), 

1  notice  the  three  letters,  "U.S.A.,"  following  my  name  in  tho 
programme,  and  I  thought  I  would  like  to  add  one  more  to  them, 
the  letter  " E.,"  so  that  they  would  read  "U.S.A.E."~Unitod  States 
of  America  and  England.  Eor  I  come  to  you  as  an  Americanised 
Englishman,  havmg  had  the  good  fortime  to  be  born  in  John  Bunyan's 
county ;  but  they  caught  me  wliile  I  was  quite  young,  and  took  me 
to  America.  This  brought  a  little  incident,  which  occurred  in  my 
missionary  work  in  Minnesota,  to  my  mind.  I  had  been  talking  at 
one  of  our  Sunday  schools  about  boys  and  girls  earning  the  money 
they  give  for  mission  objects  ;  I  beUeve  they  ought  to  do  it.  I  sug- 
gested various  ways  in  which  it  might  be  done.  On  the  following 
day  I  got  on  board  a  train,  and  saw  ahead  of  me  there  a  little  boy, 
about  eight  years  of  age,  who  kept  looking  at  me  as  though  he 
wanted  to  come  back  to  me  and  talk.  I  called  him  to  sit  beside  me, 
and  he  said,  "  Ain't  you  Uncle  Boston ?" — that's  what  the  boys  and 
girls  call  me — I  said,  "  Y'es."  I  asked  him  where  he  was  going,  and  in 
his  stammering  way  he  replied,  "  Up  north,  into  the  wheat  fields  of 
Eed  Eiver  Valley,  to  pre-empt  a  farm."  "  Have  you  any  money  to 
invest  in  land  ?"  He  pulled  out  his  little  pocket-book,  and  emptied 
nineteen  cents  out  of  it.  I  told  him  he  had  better  be  careful  about 
aUowmg  people  on  the  car  to  know  how  much  money  he  had.  The 
little  fellow  looked  up  into  my  face  and  said,  "  I  —I — I  know  you." 
"  What  do  you  know  about  me  ?"  "  You  were  at  our  Sunday  school 
on  Sunday."  "What  are  you  going  to  raise  on  the  farm?"  "Wheat 
and  oats  and  corn,  and  I'm  going  to  raise  some  for  you."  I  said, 
"  That's  good ;"  and  I  thought  my  sermon  was  going  to  take  efi'ect. 
"  AVhat  are  you  going  to  raise  forme?"  "I  guess  I'll  raise  you  a 
chicken."  "What  kind  of  chicken  are  you  going  to  raise  forme?" 
"  I  guess  I'll  raise  you  a  rooster."     "  Well,  what  good  will  a  rooster  do 

*  See  Appendix. 


Paid  and   Vohtnldvi/  SiDidaij  School  Missionaries.      195 

me,  I'd  like  to  know  ?"  "  AVliy,  what  good  will  lie  do  you  ;  c— c — can't 
lie  crow  for  you  ?"  I  wish  I  Imd  the  roostei'  here  this  morning  to  crow 
for  Queen  Victoria  and  the  4tli  of  July. 

I  began  my  voluntary  missionary  work  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Jacobs 
eaine  to  a  Convention,  and  said,  "They're  all  dead  in  IMadison 
County;  they  don't  do  anything  for  Sunday  schools  down  there." 
I  had  a  young  fellow  with  me  there,  and  when  we  went  away  we  went 
to  our  employers,  and  said  we  wanted  a  week  off.  A\'e  got  it,  and 
went  ofl'  on  the  Monday  morning  eai-ly,  and  travelled  all  over  the 
county,  and  visited  every  township,  and  at  the  next  Convention  wc 
came  up  as  a  banner  county  for  Illinois.  That  was  my  voluntary 
Sunday  school  mission  work.  As  we  look  at  the  great  need  in  our 
rapidly  developing  country,  wo  see  that  wo  have  to  go  on  further  and 
luoro  rapidly,  with  men  who  are  more  fitted  for  the  work  to  lead  tho 
advance. 

The  American  Sunday  School  Union  has  done  a  great  and  wonderful 
work :  but,  dear  friends,  the  work  is  growing  so  rapidly,  that  the 
denominations  are  beginning  tho  battle  ;  they  must  take  up  the  work. 
Now,  look  at  this  map  of  Minnesota ;  you  see  how  little  it  is  in  tho 
United  States,  and  yet  it  comprises  over  83,000  square  mUes.  I  want 
to  say,  before  I  speak  of  that  map,  that,  though  I  am  engaged  in 
denommational  Simday  school  woi'k,  I  defy  you  to  find  a  man,  woman, 
or  child,  who  has  heard  me  say  a  word  against  any  other  denomination. 
Wo  can  work  together  on  denominational  lines,  and  I  believe  the  time 
is  coming  when  we  must  work  on  those  lines. 

When  I  went  to  Minnesota  nme  years  ago,  we  had  15i  Baptist  chapels 
there,  but  only  sixty-six;  Sunday  schools,  which  I  marked  on  the  map 
in  crimson  spots,  and  I  asked  if  that  ought  to  be.  I  found  on  inquiry 
that  there  were  forty-seven  chapels  that  reported  no  Sunday  school  work 
at  all,  and  I  thought,  if  a  Baptist  chapel  had  no  Sunday  school,  it  must 
be  a  veiy  dark  neighbourhood,  so  I  marked  those  places  with  a  black 
spot.  Then  there  were  thirty-one  places  where  the  Baptists,  Cougrega- 
tionalists,  and  others  joined  in  a  united  school,  and  those  I  marked 
with  a  green  spot,  and  this  is  how  the  map  looked.  Now,  the  work  of 
a  paid  missionary  is  to  go  to  these  places,  and  improve  the  schools  by 
holding  meetings,  and  so  on.  God  has  greatly  blessed  His  work  in  our 
hands,  and  in  our  schools  there  have  been  young  men  who  are  now 
studying  for  the  ministry,  others  who  have  had  their  ambition  raised, 
and  have  fitted  themselves  for  other  places  of  usefidness,  and  you  don't 
know  the  need  we  find  for  them.  The  day  before  I  came  from  my 
home  there  were  twenty-eight  ixrgeut  letters  on  my  desk,  to  ask  mc  to 
go  to  needy  districts. 

We  want  a  training  school  for  the  missionaries,  like  those  at  Spring- 
field and  Northfield,  and  we  need  to  pay  the  men.  I  tell  you,  dear 
friends,  a  man's  time  is  worth  something.  You  are  aware  that  people 
get  large  salaries  in  ordinary  business  life — some  of  them.  Some 
ministers  do  not  get  more  than  £150  in  twelve  months,  some  not  so 

o  2 


196     Tlic   Value  of  cxhthui  Simdai/  Scliool  Onjanizations. 

iiiufli  lis  that.  Quo  I  know  received  only  ILCty  dollai-s  in  money  during 
fifteen  years,  and  could  not  have  lived  but  for  his  little  farm.  We 
want  to  get  these  missionaries  free  from  their  work  to  go  into  the 
great  field. 

When  I  began  work  in  Minnesota,  I  said  we  wUl  see  if  we  cannot 
change  the  look  of  that  map,  and  so  set  to  work  to  get  rid  of  the 
green  and  black  squares.  I  came  this  morning  to  bring  the  result 
of  this  work  for  the  past  eight  years.  We  have  had  to  work  in  all 
sorts  of  ways.  Down  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the  State  there 
was  a  man  who  moved  mto  one  of  the  new  parts  where  there  was  no 
church,  no  building  or  hall,  no  place  where  a  Simday  school  could  be 
gathered.  This  man,  however,  organized  a  Sunday  school  on  tlie  shady 
side  of  his  house  during  the  summer,  but  that  could  not  be  done  in 
the  winter.  He  said  he  must  do  something  to  keep  up  the  school,  and 
so  he  wrote  to  the  superintendent  of  the  railway  at  St.  Paid.  The 
superintendent  wrote  back,  "  The  rear  car  of  our  express  shall  be  side- 
tracked, and  you  can  hold  your  Sunday  school  in  that."  So  the  school 
was  carried  on  m  the  car.  The  result  was  that  that  whiter  ten  or 
fifteen  young  people  were  led  to  Jesus  Christ,  a  church  was  organized, 
and  you  would  now  find  there  a  neat  little  meeting-house,  and  a  pros- 
perous church  which  had  sprung  out  of  that  Sunday  school  car. 

Some  time  ago  I  was  talking  with  a  business  man  of  New  York,  who 
said  he  believed  in  paid  Sunday  school  missionaries,  and  believed  that 
the  money  he  gave  to  aid  them  was  a  good  investment.  He  also  asked 
me  what  we  were  doing,  and  how  we  were  doing  it.  I  wont  home  with 
iiim  to  his  house,  and  told  him  what  he  wanted  to  know.  That  gentle- 
man said  to  me,  "  Put  me  down  for  a  thousand  dollars  this  year."  He 
said  it  was  the  best  investment  he  could  make. 

Another  instance  in  the  Eed  River  Valley.  I  was  heljnng  a  pastor 
near  Manitoba,  and  we  were  going  to  visit  some  parishioners.  There 
was  a  bitter  wind,  and  the  pastor  said  he  did  not  think  it  woidd  do 
any  good  going  across  the  praii-ies.  I  said  we  would  go,  and  presently 
we  came  to  a  deserted  farmhouse.  We  asked  some  people  wliere 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  St.  Clair  had  gone,  and  were  told  they  had  gone  into 
winter  quarters.  We  went  to  the  river,  and  came  to  what  looked  like 
a  bare  yard  with  fowls  in  it,  and  also  saw  what  appeared  to  be  a  square 
hole  in  the  river  bank,  facing  south  and  covered  with  branches,  from 
which  a  ghl  about  nineteen  came  and  called  the  pastor.  We  went 
inside,  and  the  branches  used  for  rafters  had  sprouted,  and  a  bird  in  a 
cage  amongst  them  gave  a  hearty  welcome.  We  talked  about  Sunday 
schools,  and  Mr.  St.  Clair  said  thei-e  were  no  people  thci-e  to  foi-ra  a 
Smiday  school.  The  family  consisted  of  father,  mother,  and  nine 
children,  and  I  asked  what  more  they  wanted  to  start  a  Sunday  school. 
I  gave  them  some  papers,  and  the  school  was  organized.  The  father 
was  elected  superintendent,  the  mother  vice-superintendent,  the  other 
children  officers,  except  the  baby,  who  waf3  left  in  the  Infant  class.  A 
year  ago  ln?t  PeoernbGr  I  was  at   the-  dedication  of  a  meeting-house 


Paid  and   Vnlitvldvi/  Sunday  School  Missionaries.     197 

^\licrc  tlic  family  lived,  when  a  good  woman  came  up  and  said,  "Do 
you  remember  the  river-bank  Sunday  school  ?  You  led  to  good  times 
for  us.  The  three  eldest  ebildreu  were  led  to  the  Lord,  and  all  the 
rest  have  been  brought  to  Ilini,  except  the  baby,  and  I  guess  lie  will  be 
converted  soon." 

I  also  visited  in  the  central  part  of  Ihc  State,  and  the  i)astor  and  I 
went  to  a  village  sixteen  miles  across  the  prairie.  He  asked  me  what  I 
liad  come  to  that  place  for.  I  said  to  organize  a  Sunday  school  and 
lielphis  work.  lie  replied  that  I  might  as  well  go  to  my  next  appoint- 
ment, as  I  coidd  do  nothing  there.  I  asked  him  if  I  could  have  his 
chapel  for  a  meeting,  and  he  told  me  I  could,  and  we  then  agreed  to 
divide  the  village  between  us,  he  to  go  one  way  and  I  the  other,  to 
work  up  a  congregation.  I  had  not  gone  more  than  a  block  when  I 
saw  some  boys  playing  base-ball.  I  stood  and  watched  them,  my 
fingers  itching  to  get  hold  of  the  ball,  for  I  used  to  play  once.  At 
last  I  said,  "  Boys,  can  I  have  a  hand  in  this  game  ?  "  In  a  little  time 
I  was  at  home  with  the  players.  After  the  game,  as  we  stood  round 
talking,  the  captain  came  up  and  asked  if  I  played  regularly.  I  said 
I  was  out  of  practice,  and  he  said,  if  I  played  like  that  when  I  was  out 
of  practice,  what  must  I  do  when  I  was  in  practice.  He  then  asked 
me  if  I  woidd  play  for  them  in  a  match  the  next  day,  and  I  said  I 
would  let  them  know  m  ten  minutes.  I  went  to  the  parsonage,  and 
found  the  parson  there  ;  his  face  lighted  up  with  smiles,  and  he  said  : 
"  'We  are  going  to  have  a  meetmg  to-night ;  the  people  are  all  glad 
you  have  come.  What  have  you  been  doing?"  "Playing  base- 
ball." "Is  that  what  the  Society  sent  you  here  for ?  They  shall  hear 
of  this."  I  said,  "  The  boys  want  me  to  play  in  a  match  for  them  to- 
morrow ;  hadn't  you  better  put  off  writing  till  you  know  the  result  ? 
I  have  come  to  ask  yom-  advice  about  going."  He  said,  "  Are  you 
going  ?  "  I  said,  "  Yes."  However,  I  went  the  next  morning,  and  I 
never  played  so  well  in  my  life,  and  we  won  the  match.  The  captain 
said  they  owed  the  match  to  me,  and  asked  what  I  was.  I  said,  "My 
friend,  I  am  a  Sunday  school  missionary."  "  Are  you  a  preacher  ?  " 
"  Yes  ;  and  I  have  come  to  encourage  the  pastor  of  this  little  church, 
and  help  him  in  Simday  school  work."  The  captain  took  off  his  cap, 
and  said,  "  Boys,  come  here.  Stranger,  if  you  want  any  help  in  the 
Sunday  school  business,  just  call  on  us." 

What  was  the  outcome  of  it  ?  Two  of  those  men  are  deacons  in 
the  church  to-day,  and  another  is  trustee.  Whenever  I  go  there  they 
ask  me  to  go  a  day  before,  so  that  we  can  have  another  game  at 
base-ball.  You  will  remember  we  put  sixty-six  crimson  spots  on  the 
map  I  showed  you,  and  I  put  a  fresh  one  for  every  new  school.  Now, 
instead  of  the  sixty-six  schools,  we  have  201  Baptist  Sunday  schools, 
and  in  these  schools  there  are  gathered  every  Simday  16,500  scholars 
for  the  study  of  God's  Word.  That  is  not  the  best  of  it.  The  other 
denominations  would  bear  just  the  same  record  if  they  woidd  speak. 
The  Presbvterians  have  a  Simday  school  missionary,  and  the  Con- 


198     Tlie   Value  of  cvistinr/  Sunday  School  Organizations. 

gregationalists  have  theirs,  and  wc  work  together,  and  meet  in  blessed 
conventions,  sometimes  at  one  church  and  sometimes  at  another. 
During  the  hist  four  years  more  than  2500  of  our  young  people,  boys 
and  girls,  have  been  converted,  baptized,  and  brOLight  into  tlie  cliurches. 
God  liave  all  the  glory,  and  give  this  blessed  Sunday  school  mission  woi-k 
a  place  iu  our  hearts  !  The  other  day  a  man  heard  about  the  work,  and 
sent  his  cheque  for  36,000  dollars  to  help  it  on. 

The  Peesident  :  We  can  draw  one  moral  from  this  speech.  That  is 
the  kind  of  work  we  want  om-  Continental  Sunday  school  missionaries  to 
do.  We  want  oxw  new  Sunday  school  secretary  in  India  to  do  the  same 
work  amongst  the  Hindoo  villages.  Let  us  make  this  Convention  the 
starting-point  in  renewed  interest  in  this  work  on  the  Continent  and  in 
India.  Dear  friends,  we  have  arrived  at  a  most  historical  day,  and 
Time,  the  healer  of  all  things,  enables  us  to  look  back  calmly  upon  it.  I 
was  at  the  old  South  Church  in  Boston  the  other  day,  and  I  was  shown 
relics  of  the  Eevolution,  and  some  referred  to  the  shooting  down  of 
the  citizens  by  the  soldiers  of  King  George.  They  attempted  to  hurry 
me  by  these,  but  I  said  we  had  had  to  face  the  redcoats  on  our  own 
side  now  and  then.  Now,  we  can  together  look  back  and  see  that  the 
daughter  left  the  mother,  but  did  not  lose  her  love ;  they  still  hang 
together.     I  wish  to  move  this  resolution  : — 

"  The  English  and  Colonial  delegates  at  this  Convention  congratidate 
very  heartily  their  American  brothers  and  sisters  on  this  auspicious 
day,  and  trust  that  the  anniversary,  spent  in  this  coimtry  and  under 
tliese  happy  circumstances,  may  be  fraught  with  many  happy  remi- 
niscences." 

Here,  with  the  Union  Jack  on  one  side  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on 
the  other,  I  will  ask  you  to  stand  up  and  sing  two  verses  of  the  Ame- 
rican national  anthem,  and  then  I  will  ask  om-  American  friends  to  join 
in  a  verse  of  "  God  save  the  Queen." 

The  hymns  were  sung,  and  cheers  given  for  the  Queen  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

The  President  :  On  this  day,  when  this  union  of  hearts  has  been  so 
happily  proclaimed,  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Jacobs  to  take  the  chau-  for 
the  rest  of  the  session,  and,  no  doubt,  it  will  be  a  rehef  to  the  Conven- 
tion for  him  to  do  so. 


VISITATION  OP  LOCAL  UNIONS  AND  SCHOOLS. 
Btf  Mr.  B.  L.  Geeen  (MancJiester). 

In  introducing  the  subjects  now  to  be  submitted  for  consideration, 
it  is  desirable  to  notice  that  they  are  placed  in  the  programme  of  the 
Convention  under  the  general  heading  of  "The  Woee  Impeoted," 
and  not  either  with  "  The  Woek  Eepoeted,"  or  "  The  Woee 
Examined."  We  ai-e  called  upon  to  deal  with  them  as  among  the 
existing  organizations  of  great  value,  hcf  capable  of  improvement.     No 


Visitation  of  Local   Unions  and  Schools.  199 

one  familiar  with  tlio  liistory  :aid  progress  of  Sunday  school  work  in 
tlii.s  eountry — and  it  may  be  in  other  lands — can  for  a  moment  hesitate; 
in  awarding  a  high  plaec  to  the  benoQts  following  the  visitation  of  local 
imions  and  of  Sunday  schools.  In  America  and  on  the  Continent  of 
Europe  Protestantism  and  Christianity  owe  much  to  tlie  visitation 
conducted  by  Sunday  school  ])ioueer3  and  enthusiasts. 

But  every  caudid  friend  must  admit  that  the  beneficial  inllucncc  of 
such  Visitations  may  be  vcri/  f/reallij  extended  and  increased.  Oui- 
provmce  is  to  consider — with  reference  to  the  more  ellicicut  conduct  of 
each — how  improvement  can  be  effected. 

And  first,  with  reference  to  the  Visitation  of  Local  Unions,  by 
which  is  understood  the  presence  of  representatives  of  the  parent 
union,  or  some  other  special  delegates,  at  local  Sunday  School  Union 
meetings  and  conferences.  The  objects  aimed  at  by  such  visitation 
include  chiefly: — 

Tlie  introduction  of,  and  sustauung  the  discussion  on,  topics  of 
practical  importance  connected  with  Sunday  school  work  ; 

The  stimidating  of  local  combined  effort  in  and  through  Sunday 
schools ; 

The  raising  of  the  tone  and  character  of  the  religious  teaching  of 
children  and  young  people ; 

The  extension  of  the  influence  and  power  of  the  Sunday  school 
institution  ; 

The  securing  of  larger  returns  and  increased  profits  in  carrying  on 
the  vast  business  for  God  and  humanity  in  which  we  are  employed. 

These  objects  and  others  of  similar  character  may  indeed  be  aimed 
at  by  indiridiial  schools  without  the  aid  of  any  outsider,  and  in  some 
instances  with  2}(t>'tial  success  ;  but  they  may  be  secured  generally — as 
lias  been  the  case  often  during  recent  years — by  the  union  of  scver:d 
schools  of  a  county  or  district  in  a  general  assembly  or  confei-ence 
attended  by  an  experienced  co-worker,  whose  voice  is  not  so  familiar 
to  those  assembled,  and  whose  suggestions  and  thoughts  are,  therefore, 
likely  to  come  with  unaccustomed  freshness  and  power.  Accepting 
this  conviction,  local  imions  ask  for  a  deputation,  and  the  Sunday  School 
Union  gladly  responds.  The  representatives  thus  sent  are  often 
members  of  its  committee,  present  or  past,  or  occasionally  some  othi?r 
prominent  Sunday  school  men  possessing  the  requisite  ability  and 
leisure;  and  their  visits  have  generally  been  highly  appreciated  and 
often  eminently  useful.  Officers  and  teachers  have  been  stimulated 
and  encouraged.  Fresh  life  and  energy  have  been  infused  into  school 
engagements.  New  fields  of  enterprise  and  labom*  have  been  entered 
for  both  the  educational  and  physical  advantage  of  the  scholars  and 
others.  Many  a  conference  has  been  the  birthplace  of  invaluable 
institutions  and  movements  which  would  not  othei-wise  have  been 
brought  into  existence. 

Let  vs  ask  then,  and  attempt  to  answer,  "  How  can  this  Jlsitation 
he  improved  1 " 


200     The   Value  of  existing  Sunday  School  OvfjanizaiwnS. 

Fir-^t. — Is  it  not  desii-able  that  the  area  embraced  hy  it  should  be 
generally  on  «  widely  extended  scale '?  We  liave  had  experience  of 
visiting  local  imions  with  grand  gatherings  of  teachers  in  an  entire 
county — in  some  instances,  indeed,  two  or  three  counties  have  been 
associated  for  the  purpose — and  these  meetings  have  been  fraught  with 
incaleidable  advantage  to  all  concerned ;  but  we  liave  also  known  of 
visitations  being  made  to  unions  of  very  limited  dimensions,  restricted 
indeed  to  one  small  district,  and  have  indeed  known  of  three  or  lour 
nnions  being  visited  on  the  same  day  at  dilTerent  towns  of  moderate 
size  within  easy  reach  of  each  other,  and,  though  attended  by  only  a 
score  Or  so  of  teachers,  some  special  delegate  from  the  parent  imion  has 
been  present  at  each.  It  may  be  true  that  these  meetuigs,  thongh 
very  tliinly  attended,  may  have  some  elements  of  usefulness ;  but  a 
chilling,  repressive  atmosphere  naturally  prevails,  discussion  is  dull, 
or  becomes  personal,  and  imdoubtedly  the  proceedings  lack  the  variety 
and  the  vigour  so  essential  to  wide  and  lasting  nsefulncss.  Besides 
which,  such  an  arrangement  involves  a  great  expenditure  of  power  and 
energy,  and  faUs  to  pi'oduce  the  enthusiasm  and  beneficial  results  which 
accompany  larger  gatherings. 

Secondly. — The  Selection  of  Suhjects  at  these  Conferences  is  of  the 
highest  importance.  The  practical  should  ever  have  precedence.  Not, 
however,  that  form  of  the  practical  which  appeared  necessary  in  our 
fathers'  days,  when  deputations  visited  local  gatherings  more  as  ad- 
vertising agents  for  the  Union,  to  make  known  and  almost  to  canvass 
for  the  sale  of  their  publications.  No,  the  cii-cumstances  and  needs 
of  our  schools  have  essentially  altered  since  those  days.  They  have 
ascended  to  a  higher  plane.  Their  objects  are  now  less  literary  and 
more  spu-itual.  This  fact  should  be  even  more  recognized  than  it  is 
by  both  the  officers  of  local  unions  and  the  delegates  and  visitors  who 
attend  their  meetuigs.  But  caution  shoidd  also  be  exercised  not  to 
attempt  the  discussion  of  even  practical  subjects  of  too  large  a  range.  For 
example  :  we  met  the  other  day  with  the  report  of  a  recent  conference 
on  the  subject,  "  The  Organization  of  the  Sunday  School,  considered  in 
its  Relation  to  the  Wants  of  the  Times."  Only  fancy  having  to  prepare 
and  read  a  paper  on  this  subject  to  occupy  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 
The  object  of  these  local  conferences  is  to  quicken  teachers  into  more 
vigorous  life,  to  brighten  and  intensify  their  powers,  so  that  they  may 
more  successfidly  conduct  the  great  business  entrvisted  to  them  for  the 
benefit  of  human  souls,  for  the  puriiying  of  national  and  domestic  life 
and  for  promoting  the  kingdom  of  God ;  and  this  grand  object  should 
never  be  lost  sight  of  when  Sunday  school  teachers  meet  in  conference. 

Thirdly. — Some  of  the  most  successful  conferences  of  local  miions 
have  been  those  in  which  what  are  styled  "  Model  Lessons  "  or 
"Addeesses  "  have  been  given,  followed  by  a  fx-ee  and  full  discussion, 
sometimes,  it  may  be,  a  little  more  free  than  full.  On  other  occasions, 
the  use  of  the  Blackboaed  has  been  illustrated,  or  teachers  have  been 
shown  pi-actically — what,  alas !  so  many  do  not  seem  to  understand 


Visilalion  of  Local   Unions  nvd  Sdiools.  201 

—how  to  teuili  coUoclLvely  ;  or  dillen-iit  stjles  of  Iwicliiiig  have  Uvu 
ilisphivotl. 

Fourlhly. — A  considerable  iiiipi-oveiueut  may,  in  our  judgimnit,  be 
elll-cted  ill  tlic  Visitation  of  local  unions  by  oecasionally  varying  the 
engagements  by  the  holding  of  a  Teacher  a  Experience  Meeting  mulcr 
the  guidance  of  the  visitor,  or  some  other  thoughtful,  experienced, 
and  earnest  man.  DifRculties  might  then  be  dealt  with  and  dispelled  ; 
discouragements — if  not  removed — might  be  seriously  lessened  ;  im- 
pulses might  be  quickened  ;  defects  in  mode  and  errors  in  matter  might 
be  exposed ;  and  strong  brotherly  sympathy  and  aid  imparted  which 
woidd  be  helpful  in  the  highest  degree. 

Tiflhbj. — Nor  can  we  refrain  from  mentioning  the  intelligent  nso 
of  "  The  Question  Box"  as  a  valuable  addition  to  the  proceedings  at 
such  assemblies.  We  have  known  more  real  good  accomplished  by  the 
judicious  replies  to  inquiines  thus  presented  than  by  a  most  carefully- 
prepared  paper  i^reviously  read  and  discussed,  and  we  strongly  urge  its 
more  general  adoption  when  local  unions  are  visited. 

Sixthly. — It  is  also  desirable,  we  think,  that  the  scholars  should 
take  part  in  the  engagements  connected  with  the  Visitation  of  county 
imions.  Wherever  it  is  possible  the  depiitation  should  visit  the 
schools  in  the  town  where  the  Gonfei-ence  is  held,  to  see  the  teachers  in 
their  work,  and  to  offer  such  suggestions  as  may  appear  desu'able,  and, 
if  it  can  be  arranged,  an  aggregate  gathering  of  the  various  schools  on  a 
Sunday  afternoon  might  become  a  memorable  occasion.  Or,  if  the 
day  selected  for  the  Conference  or  meeting  be  a  national  or  local 
holiday,  the  scholars  might  be  assembled,  as  is  the  case  sometimes,  on 
the  morning  of  the  day,  the  visitor  giving  an  address,  or,  if  two  places 
of  worship  or  public  halls  are  needed,  he  might  give  an  address  at  each, 
as  it  fell  to  the  pleasant  lot  of  the  writer  to  do  last  Good  Friday 
in  one  of  the  Eastern  Counties. 

Seventhly. — But  the  chief  object  in  the  Visitation  of  local  unions 
being  to  help  the  teachers  to  increase  their  devotion  to  their  work  and 
their  intelligent  and  earnest  discharge  of  it,  Ave  suggest  the  holding 
either  of  a  United  Communion  Service,  specially  for  them  and  other 
Christian  workers,  or  a  Consecration  Service,  say,  after  the  Sunday 
evening's  public  worship,  when  the  teachers  of  the  town  or  district 
should  meet  together  to  re-dedicate  themselves  to  their  Master's  work  ; 
or  both  these  sei'vices  might  be  held  with  great  advantage. 

Eighthly. — Why  shoidd  the  Visitation  to  local  vmions  be  generally 
restricted  to  members  of  the  Parent  Committee  or  other  distinguished 
laymen  ?  Why  not  secm-e  the  Co-operation  of  our  Ministerial  Friends  1 
The  question  of  the  relation  of  the  School  to  the  Church,  which  caused 
irritation  and  trouble  in  time  past,  is  now  virtually  settled.  The 
almost  universal  acceptance  of  its  only  true  solution,  and  the  con- 
sequent existence  of  a  happier  and  more  healthy  feeling,  opens  the  door 
for  securing  the  aid  of  ministers  in  this  department  of  Sunday  school 
organization.     We  contend  that  it  would  be  of  much  advantage  if  some 


202      The   Value  of  exisilng  Sunday  School  Organizations. 

of  our  pvorament  London  and  pvovincial  ministers  would  attend  local 
Sunday  Scliool  Conferences,  and  cither  introduce,  or  take  part  in  the 
discussion  of,  the  subjects  brought  forward.  We  question  wliether  the 
benefits  wonld  be  all  on  one  side.  Gladly  sliall  we  hail  the  advent  of 
this  ans]Dicious  day  ! 

N'mthlif,  and  lastly  under  this  head. — In  order  that  the  Visitation 
of  local  unions  may  become  even  more  useful,  and  be  invested  with  a 
higher  attraction  and  significance  than  heretofore,  why  not — at  all  events, 
occasionally,  and  specially  where  two  or  three  counties  are  united — tvhi/ 
not  Itave  arrangements  made  for  meetings  of  a  varied  character  and 
extending  over  two  or  three  days  '!  Tliis  would  permit  of  the  holding  of 
sectional  meetmgs  for  the  consideration  of  special  topics,  not  perhaps  of 
universal  interest,  but  of  grave  importance  to  portions  of  our  number. 
Of  this  plan  there  have  been  some  most  successful  examples,  notably  ui 
our  recollection,  one  in  Liverpool  some  years  ago.  "VVliy  should  not 
our  Conferences  be  on  a  similar  scale  to  the  meetings  of  the  British 
Association,  Co-operative  Societies,  or  Trades  Unions  ?  If  worldly  men, 
and  those  who  take  pleasure  in  such  things,  can  give  several  days,  or  a 
whole  week  to  races,  ci'icket  matches,  lawn  tennis  tournaments,  and 
the  like,  surely,  now  and  then,  if  not  annually,  two  or  three  days  might 
be  given  by  Sunday  scliool  teachers  and  the  promoters  of  religious 
education  to  discuss  plans  for  then'  own  improvement  and  the  extension 
of  their  entei-prise.  The  one  set  devote  time  and  money  for  momentary 
gratification,  and  it  may  be  a  little  pecuniary  gain,  or,  more  generally, 
loss.  We,  who  compose  the  other  set,  might  assuredly  follow  their 
example,  for  we  aim  at  higher  issues,  ineludhig  the  life-long  benefit  of 
others,  and  their  eternal  gain. 

Very  briefly  must  we  now  refer  to  the  other  kind  of  Visitation  included 
in  the  double  title  for  tliis  paper. 

The  Visitation  of  Sunday  schools  is  one  of  the  essential  and  most 
important  duties  of  a  local  union.  Indeed,  one  of  the  chief  reasons  for 
the  very  existence  of  a  imion  would  be  gone  if  this  department  is 
neglected  or  only  carelessly  attended  to.  Therefore,  for  many  years, 
the  visitor  has  been  generally  a  recognised  and  necessary  officer  of  a 
xuiion,  and  where  he  is  endowed  with  the  requisite  qualifications,  and 
possesses  the  confidence  of  the  committee,  he  is  a  power  for  good. 
Such  a  man,  especially  if  he  has  rehnquished  his  intimate  association 
with  feUow-labourers  in  his  own  school  in  order  that  he  may  devote 
himself  to  this  work,  should  be,  nay,  has  been  and  will  be,  received 
with  nluch  esteem  in  the  schools  he  visits,  and  become  most  useful  to 
those  engaged  in  them.  His  experience  and  his  sympathy  will  constitute 
him,  as  it  were,  both  a  reference  libraiy  and  a  circulating  library  of  the 
good  things  he  has  acquii-ed  and  observed  in  Smiday  school  manage- 
ment and  operations.  Thus  he  can  judiciously  suggest  plans  and  give 
recommendations  of  the  highest  value  to  both  officers  and  teachers. 
Without  such  visitation  many  good  details  and  methods,  though  of 


Vlsllatiov   of  Lnral    Uniava  find  Schools.  203 

universal  apjjlicatiun,  liavo  beoii  only  partiiilly  adoiitecl,  and  ignorance 
1ms  prevailed  of  nnuiy  valualjlc  jilan.s  in  o[)en»tion  oven  in  neiyUbouring 
scliools. 

But  prodtablo  Visitation  dejjonds  upon  its  being  conducted  by  the 
rij^lit  men  and  in  the  right  spirit,  /riie  visitor  sliould  be  an  intelligent 
thoughtful  man,  with  mueh  love  to  cliildren,  and  great  faith  in  tlie 
Sunday  school  system,  possessing  much  tact  and  prudence,  of  a  cheerful 
disposition  and  pleasant  manners,  a  Christian  man  endowed  with 
practical  sagacity  and  spu'itual  apprehension,  who  knows  when  to  say 
the  right  words  and  how  to  say  them.  For,  Mr.  President  and 
Brethren,  the  profitable  and  happy  result  of  such  intercourse  with  our 
fellow- workers  depends,  as  in  other  relations  of  Ufe,  not  only  on  what 
we  say  but  on  Jiowvfe  say  it.  In  a  tone  of  admii-ation  a  loving  husband 
says  to  his  wife,  "You  are  a  heautj/,  you  are .'"  and  that  which  follows 
will  be  pleasant.  But  another  husband  may  say  the  same  words  with 
a  dilTei-cnt  emphasis.  "  I'ou  are  a  beauty,  i/ou  are!  "  and  the  results 
would  be  different.  (Laughter  and  applause.)  I  see  you  perceive 
the  lesson  and  will  not  enlarge.  Am  I  asked,  "  Can  such  men  be 
found  ?  "  Undoubtedly  ;  they  have  been,  and  still  are  found.  Some 
yeai's  since,  when  secretary  of  the  Newington,  Lambeth,  and  Camber- 
well  Auxiliary,  the  writer  had,  as  one  of  his  most  honoured  and  beloved 
colleagues,  one  of  the  right  sort,  Mr.  FrankUn  Allport,  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Auxiliary,  remembered,  no  doubt,  by  some  present,  who  gave  his 
whole  heart  to  this  work,  and  with  conspicuous  success.  In  other 
districts  men  have  been  found  who,  by  a  faitliful  and  synipatlietic 
discharge  of  this  function,  have  been  the  means  of  removing  abuses 
and  of  giving  an  impetus  to  the  more  etllcicnt  conduct  of  Sunday  school 
operations.  But  has  it  always  been  so  ?  "VVe  fear  uot.  Occasionally, 
it  may  be  that  union  committees,  impressed  with  the  desirability  of  having 
the  work  done,  have,  perhaps  imjiatiently,  too  readily  accepted  the  offer 
of  service  from  inexperienced,  imskilful  men. 

Good  Sunday  school  Visitation  is  a  difficult  and  deUcate  task.  It 
must  be  conducted  with  honesty  and  skill,  without  any  dictation,  but 
with  hearty  sympathy  on  the  part  of  the  visitor,  and  a  readiness  to 
leai'u  aiul  accept  good  counsel  on  the  part  of  those  visited.  On  both 
sides  much  discretion  is  needed.  When  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  was 
once  asked  "  How  he  mixed  his  colours,"  he  replied,  "  With  brains, 
sir ! "  So  here,  if  common-sense  does  not  prevail,  if  brains  are  not 
well  used,  there  will  be  little  advantage.  As  to  the  mode  of  conducting 
visitation,  it  is  impossible  here  and  now  to  go  into  details.  Suffice  it  to 
say- 
That  a  visitor  slioidd  be  at  the  school  before  it  is  opened,  and  spend 

sufficient  time  in  it  to  take  note  of  all  its  operations ; 
That  he  should  have  his  eyes  and  ears  open,  and  be  more  quick  to 

observe  than  to  criticise ; 
That  he  should  not  take  a  class  or  give  an  address — except  uuder 
very  special  circumstances ; 


204     The   Vahie  of  existing  Bnndmj  Scliool  Orgrinizalions. 

Tliat  lie  sliovild  make  a  report,  first,  verbally  or  in  writing  to  the 
ofliccrs  and  teachers  of  the  school  visited — and  then  in  writing  to 
the  committee  whom  lie  represents. 

I  have  a  sample  here,  dated  Sept.  24,  1858,  of  one  of  the  reports  by 
the  esteemed  visitor  to  whom  I  have  referred,  but  will  not  trouble  you 
now  with  the  details.  But,  useful  as  good  visitation  is,  I  say  dehberately, 
better  have  no  visitation  at  all  than  entrust  it  to  one  who  is  incompetent 
or  imwise.  A  self-opinionated,  conceited,  talkative,  fussy  man,  wherever 
else  he  may  be  of  value,  is  worse  than  useless  here.  Such  a  visitor  runs 
tlie  risk  of  bemg  dismissed  from  a  school  in  the  spu'it,  if  not  with 
the  words,  which  Mrs.  Jones  is  said  to  have  used  to  her  inquisitive 
and  faidt-finding  neighbour  Mrs.  Smith,  who,  as  Mrs.  Jones  politely 
rose  to  say  good-bye  to  her,  said,"  Yow  need  not  get  up  ;  don't  trouble 
to  see  me  to  the  door,"  and  was  answered,  "  Oh,  it's  no  trouble,  quite 
a  pleasure,  I  assure  you." 

Finally,  Mr.  President  and  Brethren,  I  ask,  Ai-e  we  satisfied — I  speak 
specially  to  the  British  portion  of  the  Convention — are  we  satisfied  with 
this  department  of  oui"  work  ?  Nay,  vei'ily  !  We  are  put  to  the  blush 
by  hearing  of  the  magnificent  resvdts  following  the  visitation  of  Sunday 
schools  in  America.  We  are  grateful,  hut  discontented.  There  has 
been  some  success,  but  more,  vastly  more,  remains  to  be  accomplished. 
The  very  atmosphere  of  success  is  charged  with  a  sacred  discontent — 
discontent  with  things  that  were  and  things  that  are,  combined  with 
tlie  sti'ong  conviction  that  perfection  is  yet  before  us,  that  there  is 
always  somethmg  better,  grander,  within  our  reach.  Let  us  ever  keep 
before  us  the  ideal  of  what  we  woidd  do  and  be,  and  we  shall  constantly 
be  aiming  at  both  doing  and  being  gi-eater  and  better  than  anything  to 
wliich  we  have  yet  attained.     Is  it  not  so  in  art  ? 

"  I  wonder  if  ever  a  song  was  sung,  but  the  singer's  heart  sang  sweeter, 
1  wonder  if  ever  a  rhyme  was  rung,  but  the  thought  surpassed  the  metre, 
I  wonder  if  ever  a  sculptor  wrouglit  till  the  cold  stone  echoed  his  ardent 

thought, 
Or  if  ever  a  painter,  with  light  and  shade,  the  dream  of  his  inmost  soul 

portrayed." 

With  such  feelings  let  us  address  ourselves,  bretlu-en,  to  our  Visita' 
tion  work  in  the  future,  and  attend  to  all  other  departments  of  our 
Sunday  school  work,  gladly  accepting  the  mottoes  in  the  Sunday  school 
map  of  America,  placed  before  us  :  "  Walk  about  Zion,  tell  the  towers 
thereof,- mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks  "—and  ivhat  lukvarlcs  so  wide,  so 
firm,  and  so  enduHng  as  our  Sunday  schools  ?  "  Let  us  be  careful  to 
know  the  state  of  our  flocks,  and  look  well  to  our  herds  ;  "  and  faithfully 
"  Woi'k  on  till  the  stars  appear."  Aye,  and  till  they  disappear  in  the 
full  light  and  glory  of  heaven's  eternal  day. 


Convciilions  and  IvstitiUrs.  20.'5 


CON  VKNTIONS     AND     INSTITUTES. 
Address  ly  Mr.  E.  CoWDEX  (Galioii,  Ohio). 

I  have  been  asked,  at  a  few  liours'  notice,  to  speak  to  you  on  tlio 
subject  of  Conventions  and  Institutes,  and  although  the  treatment  of 
such  a  topic  would  justify  the  use  of  a  great  deal  of  time,  I  promise 
you  that  I  will  be  brief.  These  are  really  two  separate  subjects,  utterly 
distinct  from  each  other  in  purpose  aiul  method.  I  shall  first  speak, 
for  a  few  moments,  on  Conventions,  as  we  have  them  in  the  United 
States  of  America  and  the  British  American  Provinces.  A  Convention 
is  a  meeting  of  Sunday  school  workers,  employed  over  a  wide  field 
whether  a  county,  a  state,  a  nation,  or  a  world,  held  for  the  purpose 
of  looking  over  that  field  in  order  to  ascertain  wliat  has  been  done  in  it. 
With  that  object  in  view,  statistics  are  collected,  collated,  and  published. 
Again  looking  over  the  field,  we  inquire  what  remains  to  be  done,  and 
maps  are  prepared  to  show  where  the  vacant  places  are.  Then  we  de- 
termine upon  the  best  methods  for  completing  the  work.  Such  are  tho 
prunary  objects  of  the  Convention. 

Incidental  to  these,  though  scarcely  less  important,  is  the  magnetism 
we  gain  from  each  other  by  meeting  together  and  taking  touch  of 
elbows,  by  joining  with  each  other  in  song,  speech,  and  prayer ;  and, 
by  the  inspiration  that  comes  upon  us  from  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  we  arc  stimulated  and  encouraged  to  go  out  into  the  field  and  to 
do  more  and  better  work  for  Jesus  than  we  have  ever  done  before.  la 
America,  we  have  a  system  of  gradations  of  Conventions.  We  began 
with  the  first  national  Convention  in  1832,  just  one  hundred  years  after 
the  birth  of  the  great  man  whose  name  and  fame  are  held  in  precious 
memory  on  this  4th  of  July.  The  next  Convention  met,  I  believe,  in 
the  following  year,  or  very  soon  thereafter.  The  third  was  held  in 
1859,  the  fourth  in  1869,  the  fifth  in  1872.  The  first,  third,  and  fifth 
were  somewhat  distinguished,  each  in  its  way.  The  first  was  the 
beginning  of  a  certain  series  of  Conventions,  the  third  was  the  first  at 
which  the  instruction  was  given  to  go  out  and  organize  States  ov 
extend  the  work  downwards  towards  the  masses  of  the  people.  The 
fifth  was  tlie  one  that  gave  us  the  International  Lesson  system,  of 
which  so  mucli  was  well  and  beautifully  said  yesterday  and  last  night. 

After  the  organization  of  all  the  States,  the  next  step  is  to  organize 
all  the  counties  of  a  State,  and  a  State  sometimes  has  more  than  one 
hundred  counties  in  it.  Every  county  is  organized  according  to  some 
general  plan  ;  then,  in  every  county,  every  township  of  that  county  is 
organized,  and  sometimes  thei-e  are  fifteen  or  twenty  townships  in  one 
county.  As  yet,  we  liavc  but  a  single  State  so  tlmrouglily  organized, 
i.e.,  every  township  and  county  in  the  entire  State,  for  holding  a 
Convention  in  every  year,  and  that  State  is  New  Jersey.  However,  that 
ie  the  ideal  ;  i.e.,  wc  want  to  extend  tlio  Convpntinn  syslprn  down  frnm 


206     Tlie   Value  of  existing  Snndaii  School  Organizations. 

State  to  county,  and  from  county  to  townsliip.  Every  family  is  visited, 
so  that  every  family  may  hear  through  iis  the  voice  of  the  blessed 
Saviour.  We  look  iip  not  only  every  boy  and  girl,  but  evci-y  neglected 
and  neglecting  j)erson,  for  the  neglecting  class  are  as  lai'ge  as  the 
neglected. 

Of  course,  there  are  difficulties  attending  the  carrying  out  of  this 
Convention  system,  as  there  are  difficulties  encountered,  at  times,  in 
all  Sunday  School  Union  work  that  is  successful.  In  one  county 
more  than  twenty  years  ago  I  knew  a  man — I  will  not  say  whether 
he  Kved  in  the  territory  of  the  older  or  of  the  younger  brother — but 
he  was  appointed  secretary  to  the  County  Sunday  School  Union. 
He  was  new  to  the  work,  and  was  without  experience.  He  had  to 
learn  liow  to  work  from  his  superiors  and  ciders.  Ho  had  sent  fur 
certain  reports,  but  they  did  not  come  to  liim.  So  ho  went  to  the 
president  of  the  union  and  stated  his  case.  Said  the  president,  "  Have 
you  a  horse  ?  "  "  Yes,"  was  the  reply,  "  I  have."  "  Can  you  ride  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir."  "  Then,  I  advise  you  to  saddle  that  horse,  mount  him, 
and  go  for  them."  And  he  did  just  that  tiling.  For  a  M'cck  or  ten 
days  he  visited  every  school  in  the  county,  and  collected  statistics  in 
the  only  way  possible.  Thus  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  county 
Sunday  School  Convention,  which  has  been  flourishing  over  since. 

This  Sunday  School  Convention  is  really  the  most  in^portant  of  the 
series,  because  it  is  the  one  which  reaches  the  masses  of  the  people. 
In  order  to  accomplish  that  object,  we  begin  the  work  upwards.  Our 
Canadian  brethren  came  to  the  United  States  in  1872,  and  took  us  all 
in,  and  from  that  time  we  became  an  International  Association,  and  we 
hold  our  International  Convention  every  few  years.  Now  we  have 
come  to  the  World's  Convention.  We  carry  ou  the  work  throughout 
on  the  same  plan  ;  we  go  dovm.  and  back  up  again.  We  attach  to 
this  idea  of  the  Sunday  School  Convention  a  great  deal  of  importance. 
I  wish  I  had  time  fully  to  elaborate  and  to  give  the  incidents  of  the 
blessedness  that  comes  from  these  gatherings  of  the  people.  I  cannot 
do  it,  however.  I  have  here  a  little  paper,  containing  fourteen  rules 
or  suggestions  for  the  holding  of  a  county  or  a  township  Sunday  School 
Convention.  It  tells  you  how  to  make  a  Convention  a  success,  how  to 
prepare  a  programme,  to  print  and  publish  itj  besides  other  necessary 
details.    This  is  the  paper  : — 

How  TO  Makk  Yotjb  County  Sunday  Scuooi  Convention  a 
Success. 

1.  Have  your  programmes  printed  a  full  month  before  the  date  of 
your  meeting. 

2.  Put  no  person's  name  on  as  a  speaker,  unless  he  first  agrees  to  fill 
the  place. 

3.  Have  it  understood  that  the  speaker  who  opens  each  topic  is  to 
occupy  but  fifteen  minutes,  to  be  followed  by  an  open  discussion  of 


CovvniliiniH  and  JiiHtitidi's.  207 

the   topii'.      (1'liis    iloes    not   rofcr    (o   cvriiiiif;   addresses  or   Normal 
Lessons.) 

4.  llave  j^leulif  of  jtrogrammes  printfid.  Mail  five  ))ro{!^"ammes  direct 
to  each  Siiperiiitciideiit  in  the  county  ;  ask  him  to  have  three  or  more 
delegates  elected  to  the  County  Convention,  two  weeks  before  the  time 
of  meeting,  and  give  each  delegate  a  jjrogramme.  Tlie  Superintendent 
and  Primary  Class  teacher  should  always  bo  among  tlie  delegates. 

5.  Send  each  township  president  enough  additional  programmes  to 
supply  each  Supermtendent  and  Pastor  of  his  township,  and  to  provide 
against  loss  by  mail  of  those  sent  to  Superintendents. 

6.  Notify  each  township  officer  that  he  will  be  expected  to  report 
in  person  as  to  the  condition  of  his  work,  and  call  his  attention  to  the 
particular  Session  of  the  Convention  at  which  he  is  expected  to  report. 
Also  notify  him  of  schools  wliich  he  should  specially  visit  before  the 
Convention. 

7.  In  the  town  or  city  where  the  Convention  is  to  bo  held,  the 
Superintendent  of  eacli  school  shoidd  have  enougli  programmes  to  give 
one  to  every  officer,  teacher  and  scholar  in  his  school. 

8.  If  a  "Children's  Meeting  "  is  to  bo  held  during  the  Convention, 
it  shoidd  be  specially  announced  in  each  school  in  tlie  town  for  three 
successive  Sundays  before  the  Convention. 

9.  Before  the  programmes  are  printed,  the  Pastors  and  Sunday  school 
workers  of  the  town  where  the  Convention  is  to  be  held,  should  bo  called 
to  meet  with  the  County  Executive  Committee  to  arrange  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  delegates,  provide  for  the  music,  make  suggestions  as  to 
programme,  and  see  that  everything  is  done  to  jirepare  the  waif  for  the 
success  of  the  Convention. 

10.  Request  each  newspaper  in  your  county  to  notice  the  Convention 
for  thi*ee  weeks,  and  to  print  the  programme  in  full  one  week  before 
the  Convention.     They  will  rarely  refuse  to  do  it. 

11.  See  that  a  Convention  is  held  in  each  township  within  the  tlu-ee 
months  previous  to  yom-  County  Meetuig.  At  least  one  member  of 
your  County  Executive  Committee  should  attend  every  township 
meeting  ;  two  is  much  better. 

12.  Kequest  each  school  in  the  county  to  send  a  contribution,  equal 
to  two  cents,  for  each  menaber  of  the  school,  to  the  County  Ti'easurer, 
for  State  and  County  Sunday  school  woi'k.  A  clear  statement  of  the 
object  and  needs  of  our  work  shoidd  be  sent  with  tliis  request.  If  the 
schools  ai"e  properly  visited,  and  the  township  work  conscientiously 
done,  they  will  generally  respond  to  tliis  call.  The  money  should 
reach  tlie  County  Treasurer  before  the  time  for  him  to  make  his 
Annual  Report. 

13.  Leave  notluug  undone  to  secure  a  fresh  and  full  report  from 
every  school  in  your  county  before  your  annual  Convention.  Request 
especially  that  the  additions  to  the  Church  and  anioiuit  of  missionary 
contributions  be  reported  by  each  school.  Tliis  will  add  much  to  the 
interest  of  yoiu-  meeting. 


208     The   Value  of  cxhihuj  Snu'Iaij  School  Organizations. 

11.  Pray  and  work  for  a  rich  spiritual  blessing  upou  youi'  Sunday 
school  workers  at  your  Convention,  and  expect  it.  God  is  not  slow  to 
answer  such  prayers.  He  loves  to  give,  and  loves  to  have  us  ask  for 
great  things. 

Duties  of  Township  Officees. 

1.  To  visit  eacJi  Sunday  school  in  your  iownshq^,  at  least  once 
each  year ;  if  possible,  once  each  quarter.  Get  acquainted  with  the 
superintendent  and  learn  his  plans  of  work.  If  he  is  discouraged,  help 
him  with  kind  words  ;  pray  with  him  for  his  school ;  tell  liini  liow  to 
overcome  his  difficulties,  or  invite  him  to  visit  some  other  school,  with 
you,  where  such  difficulties  have  been  overcome.  Especially  invite  him 
to  attend  your  township  Sunday  School  Convention,  and  the  County 
Convention  also. 

2.  See  that  a  Sunday  School  Convention  is  held  in  your  township 
at  least  once  each  year  ;  if  possible,  each  quarter.  Co-operate  with  the 
officers  of  your  County  Sunday  School  Association,  and  secure  the 
attendance  of  one  or  more  of  them  at  your  township  meeting.  AiTange 
a  programme  that  will  suit  the  needs  of  yoiu:  schools.  See  that  each 
superintendent  has  enough  programmes  to  supply  every  officer,  teacher, 
and  scholar  in  his  school.  This  should  be  done  at  least  two  weeks 
before  your  township  meeting.  The  cost  of  programmes  is  nothing 
compared  with  the  advantage  of  having  yom'  Convention  well  advertised. 
If  possible,  visit  each  school  at  this  time  and  personally  invite  all  to 
attend  your  Convention. 

3.  At  your  Convention,  call  for  a  report  from  each  superintendent 
as  to  the  encouragements  and  difficulties  in  his  work,  and  have  some 
bright  earnest  Clu-istian  tell  how  to  meet  these  difficidties.  If  more 
schools  are  needed  in  the  tovniship,  try  to  get  some  one  to  organize 
them  the  next  Sunday ;  and  ask  all  in  that  neighbourhood  to  attend  and 
stand  by  the  school.  Arrange  to  have  the  whole  township  visited  from 
house  to  house,  and  every  man,  woman  and  child  invited  to  attend 
Sunday  school  and  church. 

4.  Assist  your  County  Secretary  in  getting  reports  from  the  schools 
of  your  townsliip.  This  should  be  done  about  a  month  before  the 
Annual  County  Convention,  so  that  you  can  present  a  full  report  of 
your  work  and  tlie  condition  of  your  schools  at  that  meeting. 

5.  Go  to  the  County  Conventioii  ami  make  your  report  in  person. 
Do  not  fail  to  do  this  :  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance.  Thus  you  will 
encourage  your  comity  officers  and  interest  all  in  yom-  work.  Have  at 
least  three  delegates  to  the  county  meeting  appointed  fi-om  each  school 
in  yovir  township. 

6.  Do  all  your  toorJc  as  in  the  sight  of  Gody  and  so  as  to  meet  Sis 
approval.  Pray  much  about  it  alone,  and  with  others.  Seek  to  win 
every  soul  in  yom*  township  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

I  am  also  asked  to  speak  about  the  Sunday  School  Institute,  which,  as 
I  have  already  intimatedj  is  a  distinct  organir.ation  with  n  dififei'ent  pur- 


Conventions  and  InstUates,  209 

l)o^c  from  lliat  uf  Uiu  Cuii\ fiiliuu.  In  1872,  tlic  liiU'i'iialioiial  Coiiveii- 
tion  f^iviug  us  the  Intel-national  Lesson  System,  rendered  it  nccessarv 
that  sunietliing  should  he  done  for  the  improveniont  of  .Sunday  school 
teaeliers  ;  and  so,  in  tlie  very  next  year,  the  Chautauqua  Sunday  School 
Assembly  was  organised  for  the  purpose  of  helping  Sunday  school 
teacliers.  Froiii  that  great  gathering  others  ha\e  been  organized,  until 
now  we  have  lU'ty-flve  in  tlie  United  States  and  Canada,  and  then  tlie 
idea  has  been  extended  downwards  to  denominations  and  lesser  organi- 
zations, imtil  institutes,  with  smaller  nieetuigs  and  of  a  somewhat  gene- 
ral cliaracter,  are  now  being  held  in  village,  city,  and  country  place  all 
over  the  laud.  I  know  a  little  denomination  in  the  United  States 
tliat  has  already  2000  of  its  teachers  in  training  classes  of  this  kind. 
Teachers'  training  is  one  of  the  most  important  things  that  has 
been  thought  of  in  this  day.  The  Sunday  School  Institute  has  no 
secretary,  treasurer,  committee,  business,  or  discussion.  It  consists  of 
a  number  of  people  collected  together  for  the  purpose  of  learning  how 
to  do  work,  how  to  organize  schools,  how  to  illustrate  lessons,  and  all 
such  matters  about  the  "  how."  The  Convention  answers  the  question 
as  to  what  has  to  be  done,  what  to  do,  and  so  on.  But  the  Institute 
proposes  to  answer  the  question  how  to  do  it.  So  you  see  the  import- 
ance and  distinctness  of  these  two  organizations.  We  insist  on  every 
denomination,  as  far  as  possible,  organizing  institutes  for  itself  among 
its  own  congregations,  so  as  to  keep  its  own  teachers  trained  for  the 
purpose  of  improving  the  work  in  the  class  and  the  school.  The  Lard 
hasten  the  time  when  these  two  great  ai'ms  of  the  Church,  the  Conven- 
tion and  the  Institute,  shall  bring  our  people  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  to  final  salvation  in  heaven  ! 

Tlie  session  was  brought  to  a  close  by  prayer. 


(     210     ) 


THIED  DAY— EIGHTH  SESSION. 

Thursday  Afternoon,  July  4tii. 
MANAGEMENT  OF  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

Mr.  F.  F.  Belset,  tlie  President,  occupied  the  Cliair.  The  Kev.  Dr. 
CiiAia  (Rehgious  Tract  Society)  opened  the  proceedings  with  prayer. 

The  President  :  I  am  very  sorry,  my  dear  friends,  for  the  sake  of 
those  who  will  not  be  here  xmtil  thi-ee  o'clock,  that  Lady  Aberdeen's 
engagements  this  afternoon  are  of  such  a  character  that  she  will  be 
obliged  to  take  advantage  of  arrangements  we  have  occasionally  made 
for  opening  the  business  of  the  Convention  a  few  minutes  earlier  than 
has  been  advertised.  In  order  that  we  may  lose  none  of  her  ladyship's 
paper,  I  must  ask  you  to  consent  to  tlie  opening  of  the  Convention 
business  at  once,  and  we  wUl  commence  the  session  now.  I  shall  only 
take  a  moment  or  two  in  introducing  the  audience  to  her  ladyship  and 
lier  ladyship  to  the  audience.  I  think,  your  ladyship,  you  see  before 
you  one  of  the  most  cosmopoUtan  of  audiences.  In  front  of  us  on  the 
right  are  representatives  of  our  Canadian  feUow-subjects,  behind  them 
are  friends  from  Australia,  while  India  and  China  bring  up  the  rear. 
Immediately  before  you,  in  aU  the  glory  of  theu*  4th  of  July  celebra- 
tions, sit  our  American  delegates.  On  this  side  are  gathered  delegates 
from  our  chief  provincial  centres  and  from  the  principal  countries  of 
Europe,  veterans  in  Sunday  school  work,  who,  I  trust,  wiU  be  able  to 
carry  many  suggestions  contained  in  your  ladyship's  paper  away  with 
them  to  theu'  homes.  Further  still  to  the  left  are  the  representatives 
of  our  prmcipal  Missionary  and  other  Societies,  while  in  the  gallery  we 
have  many  visitors. 

Having  introduced  the  audience  to  yom'  ladyship,  I  do  not  think  it 
will  be  necessary  for  me  to  spend  a  moment  in  saying  a  word  of  intro- 
ductioij  so  far  as  Lady  Aberdeen  is  concerned.  I  am  certain  that, 
wherever  the  English  tongue  is  spoken,  and  wherever  Englisli  news- 
papers are  read,  the  name  of  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen  is  honoured 
and  esteemed  by  every  one.  (Loud  cheers.)  I  shall,  therefore,  with 
this  very  brief  introduction,  ask  the  Coimtess  to  favoiu?  us  with  the 
paper  which,  I  am  sm-e,  will  be  of  deep  interest  to  aU  of  us  engaged  in 
rehgious  work. 


IXccrealioc  Evciun<j  Classes.  211 


RECREATIVE  EVENING  CLASSES. 

Tlic  Countess  of  ABEiti)i:E>f  (who  was  received  with  clieers)  said :  I 
should  Uke  to  say  at  tlie  outset  how  honoured  I  feel  to  be  invited  to 
take,  however  small,  a  part  in  the  proceedings  of  this  Convention,  and 
also  to  express  my  regret  at  what,  I  am  afraid,  must  seem  like  dis- 
courtesy in  running  away  immediately  after  my  pajjer.  I  assure  you  I 
would  not  have  done  so  but  that  I  have  to  take  the  chair  at  an  important 
business  meeting  which  cannot  be  postponed. 

There  may  not  at  first  seem  much  connection  between  the  subject  of 
my  paper.  Recreative  Evening  Schools,  and  Sunday  School  Work  ;  but 
I  think,  when  we  come  to  look  into  it,  we  shall  find  one  subject  bears 
very  much  ou  the  other,  and  that  we  shall  find  that  the  Recreative 
Evening  Schools  Association  has  a  very  definite  message  for  Sunday 
school  teachers.  I  think  it  has  very  much  the  same  message  to  us,  wlio 
are  Sunday  school  teachers  (cheers),  as  I  saw  in  a  little  tract  I  came 
across  the  other  day,  which  tells  us  of  the  advice  that  a  minister  gave 
to  his  congregation.  Tliis  minister  was  very  much  depressed  by  the 
little  that  was  done  by  members  of  his  congregation.  He  had  tried 
meetings  and  mission  services,  and  prayer-meetings  and  Bible  readings, 
but  all  of  no  avail.  It  seemed  as  if  he  could  not  stir  up  his  people, 
and  at  last  one  year,  just  before  the  beginning  of  the  week  of  prayer,  he 
addressed  liis  congregation,  and  rather  surprised  them  by  addressing 
them  somewhat  like  this.  He  said  :  "You  all  know  this  is  to  be  a  week 
of  prayer,  but  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  make  a  change,  and  I  am  going 
to  ask  you  to  make  it  a  week  of  practice  instead.  I  am  not  going  to 
ask  you  to  go  home  and  to  practise  in  the  ordinaiy  way,  but  I  want 
you  to  take,  as  it  were,  topics  for  each  day  this  week — take  topics  very 
much  in  the  same  way  as  you  generally  take  subjects  to  pray  for  this 
week.  For  instance,  on  Monday  I  will  ask  you,  instead  of  praying  for 
temperance  work,  to  go  home  and  try  to  be  temperate  in  thought,  and 
word,  and  deed  in  all  ways.  Ou  Tuesday  we  have  Sunday  schools  to 
pray  for.  WeU,  I  will  ask  you  to  look  up  yom-  Sunday  scholars  in 
their  homes.  On  Wednesday  is  a  fellowship  meeting.  You  are  asked 
to  go  to  a  great  fellowsliip  meeting  twenty-five  miles  away.  A  great 
many  cannot  go,  but  I  tliink  we  can  all  try  and  cultivate  fellowship 
amongst  our  friends,  and  go  and  see  all  our  friends  who  have  been  cold 
to  us,  and  with  whom  there  have  been  breaches  of  friendship,  and  with 
whom  any  passage  of  arms  has  occurred,  and  remember  that  we  are 
bretkren.  On  Thm-sda}'  we  are  asked  to  pray  for  the  famil}'.  Let  us 
then  remember — as  fathers  and  mothers,  as  children,  in  all  relations  of 
the  family  and  fi-iend — let  us  remember  how  the  Lord  acted  towards 
His  church,  and  let  us  try  and  imitate  His  example.  Then  on  Friday 
we  are  asked  to  pray  for  the  church.  Let  us  try  to  think  in  our  every- 
day life  hotv  He  would  have  acted,  and  let  us  try  to  follow  Him.  And 
on  Satiu-day  there  is  missionary  work.     AVeD,  I  have  often  brought 

p  2 


212  Management  of  Sunday  Schools, 

before  you  niissiouarv  work,  but  tbis  time  I  waut  you  to  go  and  try 
and  find  out  tbe  people  for  yourselves.  And  at  tbc  end  of  tbe  week  let 
lis  all  meet  together,  and  eboosc  some  brother  by  vote  who  will  tell  us 
liis  experience  of  tbc  week." 

They  aU  received  Iris  proposal  very  enthusiastically',  and  said  they 
would  all  try  this  work,  all  except  one  old  gentleman,  Squire  Amos 
Tucker.     When  they  met  at  the  end  of  the  week  they  did  so  with  sad- 
dened faces.     When  they  handed  round  the  ballot-boxes,  it  was  found 
that  tbe  lot  had  fallen  to  Deacon  Emmons  to  relate  his  experience.    He 
did  not  seem  very  pleased,  and  said  that  be  bad  not  very  much  good 
to  report ;  but  the  minister  said  he  must  report  wbat  was  bis  experience, 
and  what  be  went  tbrougli  from  day  to  day,  and  I  cannot  do  better 
than  read  you   tbe   residt.     [Lady  Aberdeen  then  read  a   pamphlet 
showing  bow   a   week's   practice   began   a   memorable  year   in   that 
cbapel,  aud  bow  it  brought  about  a  revival  wliich  a  week's  service  had 
not  been  able  to  attain.]    I  think  tbe  Kecreative  Evening  Schools  Asso- 
ciation bas  very  mucb  the  same  message  for  us,  and  it  gives  us  very 
much  the  same  advice.     We  are  professing  and  trying  to  bring  up 
Sunday  school  scholars  so  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  live  pure,  bright 
Christian  lives.  We  tiy  to  pray  for  them  as  Chi'istian  soldiers  in  every- 
day bfe ;   we  make  our  teaching  to  bear  upon  that  every-day  life  ;  and 
we  want  to  make  them  live  Cbi'istian  lives.   "We  must  try  and  get  bold 
of  these  young  people  in  tbeu"  every-day  lives,  not  only  in  their  homes, 
but  during  evenings  in  tbeu*  spare  boiu's,  and  tbis  should  be  done, 
especially  with  our  elder  boys  and  girls  ;  and  if  tbis  weie  done  tbe  ques- 
tion bow  are  we  to  obtain   our  older  scholars  would  be  practically 
answered  here.     What  is  tbe  problem  that  tbe  Recreative  Evening 
Schools  Association  set  itself  to  accomplish  when  it  set  itself  to  work  ? 
Let  me  read  a  few  sentences  written  by  Mr.  Flower,  tbe  secretary  of 
the  association  :  "At  the  very  age  when  tbe  mind  begins  to  awake  and 
tbe  bodily  powers  to  develop,  when  a  wise  discipline  and  training  are 
most  needed  and  would  be  most  fruitful,  the  scholars  are  permitted, 
both  by  law  and  by  the  public  opinion  of  their  associates,  to  enter  on 
the  work  of  life  without  any  further  educational  assistance  or  restraint. 
Tbe  results  are  disastrous  and  full  of  peril  to  tbe  community.    The 
little  learned  at  school  soon  leaks  away ;  the  scholars  are  cut  adrift 
without  any  real  equipment  for  the  woi-k  of  Hfe,  and  fall  an  easy  prey 
to  tbe  temptations  which  beset  tbe  idle  or  vacant  minded.     They  have 
no  resom'ces  in  themselves ;  their  bomes  are  often  dull  and  dii-ty ; 
while  tbe  streets  teem  with  attractions.     Tbe  glai'e  and  music  of  tbe 
public-house  allure  them  ;  tbey  crowd  into  the  cheap  theatres,  dancing 
and  music-halls  ;  in  many  cases  they  fomi  habits  and  companionships 
which  corrupt  tbeii'  whole  life,  or,  at  the  very  best,  by  early  mamage 
wreck  their  own  happiness  and  aggravate  the  miseries  which  arise  from 
the  mx^ltiplication  of  the  profits,     Nor  is  this  all :  Tbe  results  from  an 
industrial  point  of  view  ax'c  no  less  menacing.     Vast  nimibers  of  our 
youth  are  growing  up  year  by  year  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  unem- 


licarntive  Evening  CUtuscsi.  213 

ployed,  because  unskilled ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  demand  for 
unskilled  liiboiu"  is  year  by  year  decreasing.  These  are  facts  of  serious 
import.  Tiiey  are  the  raw  material  of  revolutions.  They  constitute  a 
social  and  political  danger  of  the  first  magnitude." 

Then,  again,  I  will  tell  you  what  Mr.  Besant  says  :  "  Boys  and  girls  afc 
tlurtecn  have  no  inclination  to  read  newspapers  ;  after  their  day's  work 
and  confinement  in  the  hot  rooms  they  are  tired,  they  want  fresh  air  and 
exercise.  To  sum  up  :  there  are  no  existing  inducements  for  the  children 
to  read  and  study  ;  most  of  them  are  sluggish  of  intellect ;  outside  tlio 
evening  schools  there  arc  no  facihties  for  them  at  all;  they  have  no  books. 
When  evening  comes  they  are  tired ;  they  do  not  understand  their 
own  interest ;  after  tlieu-  day's  work  they  like  an  evening's  rest.  The 
street  is  always  open  to  them  ;  here  they  find  the  companions  of  tho 
woi'k-room  ;  here  they  feel  the  swift  strong  current  of  life  ;  here  some- 
thing is  always  happening  ;  here  there  are  always  new  pleasm-es ;  here 
they  can  talk  and  play  unrestrained,  left  entirely  to  themselves,  taking 
for  pattern  those  a  Uttle  older  than  themselves.  As  for  then-  favourite 
amusements  and  pleasures,  they  grow  yearly  coarser  ;  as  for  their  con- 
versation, it  gi'ows  continually  viler,  until  Zola  himself  would  be 
ashamed  to  reproduce  the  talk  of  these  young  people."  Has  that 
nothing  to  do  with  Sunday  school  teachers?  Can  the  hour  or  two 
that  we  spend  with  the  children  on  Sunday  counteract  the  evening 
education  of  the  streets  ? 

Let  us  see  how  the  Reci'eative  Evening  Schools  Association  sets 
itself  to  work  to  remedy  this.  Let  us  read  what  Dr.  Baton,  the  founder 
of  tliis*lissociation,  says — whom  I  am  glad  to  see  is  to  read  a  paper  at 
this  Convention,  and  of  whom  it  is  impossible  to  speak  in  words  of  too 
liigh  praise  or  of  too  great  reverence.  He  says :  "  How  can  we  win 
the  children  from  the  street,  seeing  that  we  have  no  powers  of  com- 
pidsion  and  no  inducement,  but  such  attractions  in  the  school  itself  as 
will  make  it  more  pleasant  to  them  than  the  street,  or  the  low  amuse- 
ments that  lure  them  to  ruin  ? 

"  And,  again,  how  can  we  win  them,  when  gathered  together  in  the 
school,  to  the  love  of  good  and  hatred  of  evil  ?  This,  verily,  is  a  large 
question ;  and  the  answer,  too,  is  larger  than  I  or  any  one  can  fully  give. 
But  the  question  is  urgent,  and  some  great  elements  of  the  answer  are 
clear  and  certain  enough.  Broadly  speaking,  the  attractions  of  tho 
evening  school,  to  be  powerful  for  the  object  desu'cd,  must  be  threefold. 
First,  there  must  be  in  them  healthy  play,  the  charm  of  music,  and  the 
splendour  of  colom-.  They  can  entice  our  young  people  to  the  school, 
as  now  they  entice  them  from  it.  And  most  certainly  each  of  these 
can  be  made  the  means  of  physical,  mental,  and  moral  training,  with- 
out losing  any  of  their  fascination.  The  principles  that  uuderhe  tho 
Kindergarten  must  be  applied  to  education  for  older  children  who  are 
passing  through  the  fervid  spring-tide  of  Hfe,  when  their  senses  are  so 
vivid,  and  their  social  instincts  and  physical  powers  are  so  rapidly 
developing. 


214  Management  of  Sundaij  ScJiools. 

"  Song,  it  seems  to  mc,  that  very  Syren  bj-  whieli  so  many  of  our 
young  are  sediiecd,  lias  a  measareless  power  in  it  for  tlic  highest 
good  of  the  people.  There  is  no  inspiration  of  truth,  love,  duty, 
cliivalrous  courage  in  defending  the  feeble  and  rescuing  the  fallen, 
manly  purity,  womanly  grace,  but  you  may  breathe  it  and  quicken  it 
in  the  souls  of  the  young,  and  make  it  a  ruling  power  in  their  lives  for 
over,  by  the  refrains  and  reiterated  harmonies  of  song.  Ballads  still, 
if  we  but  knew  it,  could  do  infinitely  more  than  laws  for  the  ennobling 
of  the  people. 

"  Second  ;  the  active  energies  of  youth  must  be  engaged  and  wisely 
du'ected  in  these  schools.  People  are  interested  in  what  they  do — 
■what  they  like  to  do  and  can  do.  Pre-eminently  is  this  true  of  the 
young  ;  give  their  hands  something  to  do,  and  you  have  won  them. 
Their  hands  are  their  busy  organs.  Their  brains  are  often  numb, 
•whilst  their  hands  are  ahve  with  mischievous  energy.  Is  not  the  mis- 
cliief  of  youth  but  healthy  energy  misdirected,  as  dirt,  a  veteran 
stateman  told  us,  was  but  wholesome  matter  misplaced  ?  Let  that 
vital  energy  be  seized.  By  it  we  draw  the  youth,  and  by  rightly 
training  it  we  save  him.  What  may  not  be  taught  the  boy,  through 
those  restless  fingers  of  his,  of  cunning  skill,  of  patient  labour,  of  a 
divine  order,  and  heavenly  beauty  ? 

"  And,  lastly,  everything  in  the  school  must  bear  closely  upon  the 
reaUties  of  life — iipon  the  world  aroimd  our  youth  and  the  life  before 
them.  Their  interests  and  sympathies  at  that  age  are  keen  in  their 
attachment  to,  and  quest  of  the  actual,  which  they  themselves  so  won- 
drously  idealise.  Thiis  everything  should  train  the  children  for  their 
future." 

Then,  if  we  ask  how  the  Eecrcative  Evenmg  Classes  attempt  to  carry 
out  these  ideas,  let  us  see  the  classes  that  they  carry  on.  They  are 
carrying  on  in  London  more  than  100  evening  schools,  and  there  are 
over  600  teachers  engaged  voluntarily.  The  cliief  subjects  taught  are 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  English,  geography,  history,  elementaiy 
science,  and  domestic  economy.  I  would  advise  those  who  want  to 
have  some  idea  how  these  different  lessons  can  be  made  Hght  and 
attractive,  and  at  the  same  time  eminently  practical,  to  procure  a  pam- 
phlet by  Mr.  Flowers,  called  "  Recreation  and  Education,"  which  gives 
advice  as  to  how  evening  classes  can  be  made  practical,  musical,  and 
bright,  and  how  even  the  three  R's  can  be  made  interesting  to  the 
scholars. 

The  Lantern  Lectures  are  among  the  most  attractive  of  the  methods 
employed.  Mr.  Flowers  speaks  of  how  "  geology  can  be  brought  home 
to  London  lads  by  telling  them  in  Kingsley's  fasliion  about  the  mud  of 
the  Thames,  of  which  they  willingly  procure  specimens;  physiography, 
by  expanding  the  lessons  of  volcanoes,  glaciers,  rivers,  and  waves.  The 
chemistry  of  common  things,  with  many  simple  experiments,  is  another 
popular  subject,  as  also  are  electricity  and  magnetism.  Another  large 
and  useful  branch  of  instruction  is  in  connection  with  our  industries, 


Itccrrnlive  Erciiing  Clasaoa.  215 

for  whicli  wo  have  slides  providod  :  on  "  Our  coal,  and  how  wo  get  it ;" 
"  A  halo  of  cotton  ;  "  "A  chest  of  tea,"  and  so  on  ;  and  there  are  occa- 
sional lectures  on  suhjects  of  practical  interest,  such  as  ventilation, 
foods,  and  food  supplies. 

Musical  drill  is  one  of  the  great  means  of  instructing  and  amusing. 
It  is  wonderful  to  see  how  the  young  hoys  and  girls,  and  tlio  young 
men  and  yoimg  women,  enter  into  this  musical  drill.  Peojilc  siiy  that 
these  girls  are  so  tii-ed  after  their  work  that  it  is  no  use  trying  such 
tilings  ;  but  it  is  interesting  to  see  the  part  they  take  m  these  drills, 
and  how  they  long  to  exercise  their  limbs  in  some  free  way  ;  and  with 
music  how  attractive  it  can  be  made  to  them.  And,  then,  handwork  is 
most  important ;  teaching  them  to  use  their  hands  in  conjunction  with 
their  heads.  We  have  seen  a  good  many  results  of  historical  wood- 
carving  throughout  the  country. 

Then,  again,  we  see  how  eagerly  young  men  and  boys  take  to  it, 
and  how  delighted  they  are  to  have  the  chance  of  using  theu'  hands, 
and  learning  how  to  make  pretty  things  for  their  homes,  even  if  they 
cannot  do  them  to  sell.  Then,  with  regard  to  girls,  there  is  fancy  needle- 
work, and  teaching  them  how  to  make  the  most  of  scraps,  and  teaching 
them  how  to  trim  their  bonnets  and  to  make  dresses.  Then  there  is 
cookery.  But,  to  make  these  things  bright  and  attractive,  you  must 
needs  have  bright  and  attractive  teachers,  and  that  object  will  be  the 
better  gained  by  having  voluntary  teachers,  and  teachers  who  will  not  be 
too  professional  in  their  way  of  teaching.  At  the  same  time,  you  want 
them  to  care  enough  about  what  they  are  doing  to  make  themselves 
thoroughly  masters  of  the  subject,  and  bo  willing  to  go  in  for  a  proper 
ainount  of  training.  But  the  main  thing  is,  you  want  to  have  people 
who  care  a1;)out  the  children,  and  who  feel  the  vast  importance  of  what 
they  are  domg;  and  surely  there  is  nobody  whom  we  can  appeal  to  more 
strongly  than  Sunday  school  teachers.  I  am  not  sure  whether  there  are 
many  Sunday  school  teachers  amongst  those  who  are  enlisted  in  this 
work  ;  I  should  think  there  is  a  large  number ;  but  I  assiu-e  you  it  is  a 
subject  of  immense  importance,  and  it  only  needs  to  be  brought  before 
Sunday  school  teachers  for  them  to  see  its  importance.  I  do  not  know 
whether  our  friends  in  Amei-ica  have  associations  of  the  same  kind. 
Probably  they  have,  and  I  hope  they  will  have  the  opportimity  of  telling 
us  what  they  are  doing  in  the  same  direction. 

But,  from  whatever  point  of  view  we  look  at  it,  we  cannot  help  seeing 
the  urgency  of  the  matter.  We  are  constantly  being  saddened  and 
distressed  by  hearing  of  the  many  miseries,  of  the  terrible  poverty  of  a 
certain  class  of  people,  of  those  who  suffer  under  the  sweating  system, 
of  those  whom  the  Poor  Law  fails  to  reach,  of  those  who  are  out  of 
work ;  and,  whatever  investigations  are  made  into  these  matters,  you 
always  find  the  same  thing,  that  the  vast  majority  of  those  who  are  thus 
suffering  are  the  unskilled,  the  untrained,  the  incompetent ;  but  there 
is  generally  work  and  fair  play  for  those  who  are  trained  and  skilled. 
It  is  the  untrained  and  the  incompetent  who  have  to  submit  to  those 


216  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

terrible  hours,  and  who  have  to  take  the  wretched  pay  which  must 
grind  all  the  spiritual  life  out  of  them,  and  which  must  prevent  the 
soul  awakening  to  a  sense  of  its  high  destiny. 

Therefore,  Recreative  Evening  Classes  have  a  grand  opportimity,  be- 
cause here  they  are  helping  to  lay  the  fomidation  and  give  a  desire  for  that 
technical  training,  and  give  that  instruction  which  will  alter  the  destiny 
of  the  young  people  under  our  care.  Therefore  it  is  a  work  of  the  highest 
patriotism,  as  well  as  of  true  religion,  which  is  undertaken.  But,  again, 
if  we  only  look  at  it  from  the  point  of  view  of  how  to  increase  the 
efficiency  of  our  Sunday  schools,  Sunday  school  teachers  must  see  its 
importance.  It  is  the  merest  commonest  truism  that  no  mere  Sunday 
school  teacher  can  possibly  be  of  much  good  to  liis  scholars  unless  he 
knows  them  in  their  home  life  ;  he  must  know  them  outside  the  scliool. 
And  here  we  liave  a  splendid  opportunity.  We  have  them  during  their 
leisiu'e  hours  ;  we  have  the  means  to  interest  them,  the  means  to  arouse 
their  enthusiasm,  the  means  to  awaken  them  into  a  sense  of  the  beauty, 
which  is  a  gi-eat  thing  in  itself,  and  a  sense  of  the  ideal,  and  a  wish  to 
reach  it ;  and  if  we  can  be  by  the  side  of  our  Sunday  school  scholars 
when  they  are  awaking  to  that  sense  of  duty  and  the  ideal,  if  we  can  be 
by  their  side  when  they  are  making  efforts  after  beauty,  efforts  to  im- 
prove themselves,  and  if  they  feel  that  we  are  entering  thus  into  their 
lives — if  we  are  so  charged  with  the  spirit  of  Christ  which  enables  us 
to  lay  down  our  own  hves  so  as  to  enter  into  the  lives  of  others — can  wo 
doubt  that  thi-ough  these  Recreative  Evening  Schools,  and  efforts  of  the 
same  sort,  we  shall  be  the  means  of  forging  many  and  many  new  links, 
of  uniting  these  many  young  souls,  for  whom  we  hold  ourselves  respon- 
sible, to  their  God  and  their  Father.     (Cheers.) 

ThePsESiDENT  :  Though  it  is  not  part  of  our  arrangements  to  accord 
votes  of  thanks  to  those  who  favom*  us  with  papers,  still,  if  it  wei'c  so,  I 
am  sure  one  of  the  heartiest  votes  of  thanks  would  be  accorded  to  the 
Countess  of  Aberdeen.  (Cheers.)  Though  that  is  not  om*  custom, 
from  the  bottom  of  our  hearts  we  thank  her  for  her  kind  presence  here 
to-day.     (Cheers.) 

The  Earl  and  Countess  of  Aberdeen  then  left  the  building  amid  cheers. 

The  Peesident  :  We  all,  my  clear  friends,  have  rejoiced  to  find  tlie 
ladies  in  these  later  years  taking  so  prominent  a  part  in  the  great  volim- 
tary  rehgious  movement  of  our  day.  You  have  listened  to  the  Coimtess 
of  Aberdeen,  and  now  I  rejoice  to  know  tliat  she  is  to  be  followed  by  an 
American  lady,  Mrs.  Wheeler,  who  will  give  us  a  paper  on  Primary 
Classes,  and  a  hearty  welcome,  I  am  sure,  awaits  her. 


PEIMAKY  CLASSES  OF  AMEKICA. 

5j/  Mes.  E.  Gr.  Wheelee  (Portland,  Oregon,  U.S.A.). 

In  that  part  of  America  of  which  I  am  a  native,  Minnesota,  we  often 
awaken  vx  the  early  winter  mornings  and  look  out  upon  the  beautiful 


Pr'niniri)  Classes.  217 

landscape,  with  here  niid  there  a  snowflake  Hying  in  tlie  air;  but,  as  wo 
gaze,  wc  see  another  and  still  another  coming,  as  children  freed  from 
school,  until  at  last  the  earth  is  covered  with  a  mantle  of  purity ;  but 
Boon  the  north  wind  begins  to  blow,  and  those  particles  are  brought 
close  together,  still  closer,  until  we  see  great  banks  of  snow.  But  you 
say,  AVluit  of  that?  Look  ;  yonder  is  the  mighty  engine  coming  with 
its  load  of  freight,  travelling  with  such  great  speed  that  one  can  hardly 
see  it  before  it  is  gone,  leaving  behind  its  track  of  smoke  blaekciiing  the 
purity  of  the  earth's  white  garment.  But  now  it  moves  slower,  still 
slower,  and  at  last  it  stops.  Why  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Only  some 
snowflakes  in  the  way  ;  but  they  say,  "  Stop,  we  are  small,  but  -when 
imited  you  cannot  pass  with  all  your  strength  and  pride."  So  it  seems 
to  me  are  the  little  children  all  over  our  lands,  the  pure  white  snow- 
flakes  from  Heaven  sent  to  lighten  and  cover  with  purity  our  earth- 
You  say,  What  can  they  do,  so  small  among  the  many  great  ?  Perhaps 
but  little  when  scattered,  but  when  brought  together  in  our  Siuiday 
schools  and  led  by  the  Holy  Spirit  they  become  a  power  which  says  to 
that  mighty  engme  of  sin, "  Stop !  you  can  go  no  farther ;  ive  are  /icre.^' 
I  am  to  speak  to  you  concerning  a  small  part  of  the  great  department  cf 
our  Sunday  school  work. 

Our  Primabt  Class, 

which  is  often  a  strange  mixtm-e.  With  nmnbers  depending  upon  the 
size  of  school  or  congregation  and  abiUty  of  the  teachers,  it  consists 
of  the  smallest  of  the  children,  with  freaks  and  capabilities  as  fickle 
and  varied  as  April  showers,  and  as  sweet  as  May  flowers. 

What  it  should  be. — As  the  name  signifies,  it  should  be  composed 
of  oiu*  youngest  scholars,  save  the  Infant  department,  of  which  I  will 
speak  later,  and  some  teachers  make  it  a  ride  to  admit  into  our  primary 
classes  none  under  three  or  over  ten ;  but  it  seems  to  me  better  to  be 
governed  by  ability  rather  than  by  age,  so  that  in  our  teaching  we 
should  not  have  to  aim  above  the  heads  of  the  smaller  ones  to  meet 
the  needs  of  the  older,  nor  yet  ignore  the  wiser  to  amuse  the  babies. 

Grade. — Again,  our  teachers  require  a  certain  general  knowledge  of 
the  Bible  fi'om  then-  pupils  before  promoting  them  into  the  juvenile 
or  second  department.  The  usual  outline  is  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the 
Ten  Commandments,  Beatitudes,  names  of  books  of  the  Bible,  23rd 
Psalm,  also  103rd,  and  to  be  able  to  read,  so  that  they  may  follow  the 
lessons  of  the  juvenile  coiu-se. 

Oeganizatiok. — In  organizing  a  class,  we  first  find  a  teacher  who  is 
filled  with  the  love  of  Jesus  and  love  for  the  children.  Let  her  make 
her  plans  in  accordance  with  her  smToundings,  bettering  those  where  she 
may,  and  making  most  of  those  she  cannot  help.  There  are  a  few  of  our 
churches  where  the  primary  classes  cannot  have  a  separate  room,  but  only 


218  ManaffGment  of  Sunday  ScJiools. 

a  comer,  the  most  cheerful  one,  of  course,  ciu-tahiecl  from  the  main  room ; 
but  most  of  our  teachers  have  their  own  apartments,  and  there  with  car- 
peted floor,  low  seats  or  chairs,  organ,  black-board,  charts,  maps,  and  any 
other  attractions  she  may  obtain,  either  by  her  own  ingenuity  or  by 
gifts,  using  all  those  things  pleasing  to  the  eye  or  useful  in  her  work, 
she  tries  to  conibine  the  home  and  church  hfo  for  the  child  as  far  as 
possible,  and  teach  them  Jesus,  who  said,  "  They  that  seek  Me  early  shall 
find  Me."  Some  supei'iutendents  prefer  to  have  theu-  little  ones  Mith 
them  in  the  opening  and  closing  of  the  school,  but  the  most  approved 
plan  is  to  have  them  entirely  by  themselves  in  all  their  exercises,  perhaps 
joining  the  school  on  review  Sunday,  with  their  part  in  the  programme, 
and  on  the  anniversaries, 

Arrangemext. — Our  teachers  also  differ  as  regards  the  arrangement 
of  thou*  classes.  Tl.e  first,  and  by  some  still  considered  tlie  best,  plan  is 
to  have  the  class  aU  in  one,  with  low  benches  arranged  in  tiers  smaller 
in  front,  or  else  having  difierent  size  chairs — the  largest  at  the  back  and 
smallest  in  front.  The  idea  is  to  have  the  class  so  seated  that  they  may 
all  see  the  teacher  and  she  each  cliild.  In  this  plan  most  of  the  teachers 
have  young  lady  assistants,  who  conduct  the  music,  take  the  collections, 
call  the  roll,  distribute  the  cards  or  books,  and,  in  fact,  make  them- 
selves generally  useful,  leaving  the  teacher  free  for  her  own  teacliing 
working. 

Others  take  the  largest  scholars  of  her  school  and  organize  them  into 
a  class  called  "  the  workers,"  and  they  act  as  assistants. 

Still  others  appoint  monitors  either  once  a  month  or  week,  one  for 
each  row  of  seats,  who  care  for  the  cMldren  on  that  row,  and  lead  in 
the  class  exercises. 

These  teachers  believe  that  there  is  an  inspiration  and  enthusiasm  in 
numbers,  that  the  older  feel  a  proud  responsibility  of  earing  for  and 
leading  the  younger ;  and  that  it  is  better  to  have  one  good  teacher  than 
many  poor  ones. 

Others  of  our  teachers  are  following  the  newer  plan  of  dividing  their 
large  class  into  httle  circles  of  from  six  to  ten,  and  appointing  teachers 
over  each,  who  are  responsible  for  their  own  little  band  in  regard  to 
attendance,  attention,  and  knowledge  of  the  lesson.  Here,  agam,  we 
have  variety  in  methods.  AU,  I  beheve,  have  the  general  exercises  to- 
gether, conducted  by  the  primary  superintendent ;  in  some  classes  the 
head  teacher  gives  the  lesson,  the  others  do  the  supplemental  work ; 
while  in  others  the  superintendent  opens  the  lesson  of  the  day,  first 
reviewing  the  former  one,  and  then  the  teachers  continue  the  work  in 
their  separate  classes  ;  then  the  superintendent  reviews  and  clinches  the 
thoughts  given  in  a  short  summing-up  of  leading  truths  and  lessons 
learned. 

These  teachers  believe  that  more  personal  work  can  be  done  by  this 
plan ;  that  more  children  can  be  reached  in  their  home  and  in  the 
school ;  that  the  work  is  divided,  and  "  many  hands  make  light  work ;" 


Priniari/    CJfiKxrx.  219 

thnt  the  cliilili-cn  when  promolid  froiii  tliis  room  into  the  main  room 
with  their  teiiehcr  will  he  more  contented  than  ii3  if  going  into  a  strange 
department  witli  a  new  teacher;  and  that  teaclicrs  arc  being  constantly 
trained  to  enter  into  the  more  general  Sunday  school  work.  That  all 
may  teach  with  the  same  central  tlionglit,  some  primary  superintendents 
hold  a  weekly  primary  teachers'  meeting.  In  our  larger  cities  wc  havo 
organized  the  Primary  Sunday  School  Teachers'  Union,  where  teachers 
of  all  our  Sunday  schools  gather  together  and  are  taught  the  lesson  and 
other  departments  of  our  important  work. 

And  still  other  teachers  take  a  preview  of  the  lesson,  detain  their 
teachers  a  lew  minutes  after  the  school,  and  give  them  tlie  central 
thought  and  plan  for  the  next  lesson,  and  hold  a  monthly  meeting  for 
prayer  and  conference  concerning  their  work.  And  now  lately  ono 
more  advance  has  been  made  in  our  primary  work  by  organizing  an 
infant  department,  separate  from  the  primary  room,  and  there  the  littlo 
ones  are  gathered  together  and  taught  on  the  Kindergarten  plan  of  tlio 
day  schools,  using  the  Bible  as  the  text-book. 

Gathering. — You  know  the  old  saying,  "You  must  first  catch  tlie 
bird  before  you  can  cage  him."  We  have  our  cage  made  and  planned 
what  we  would  do  with  the  birds  if  we  only  had  them,  and  now  we 
will  go  out  for  them,  the  little  wee  twittering  timid  ones. 

How  SHALL  WE  GET  THEM  ? — Do  you  remember  that  little  incident 
of  the  child  whose  mother  said,  "  We  have  no  record  in  the  Bible 
that  Jesus  ever  smiled;"  but  the  little  daughter,  standing  near,  said, 
"  Mamma,  I  know  He  smiled  once  when  He  said,  '  Let  the  little  children 
come  unto  Me,'  or  else  they  never  would  have  come  ;  "  so  we  must  go 
with  a  cheerful  face,  for  often  the  teachers'  eyes,  as  well  as  the  mothers', 
are  the  babies'  skies.  We  visit  the  homes  to  get  acquainted  with  the 
mothers,  and,  if  the  children  are  too  small  to  leave  the  home  nest  alone 
some  of  our  teachers  have  seats  for  the  mother  in  then-  classes,  and  invite 
them  too,  for  we  believe  there  should  be  perfect  co-operation  of  mother 
and  teacher  to  obtain  the  best  results.  We  also  invite  the  cliildren  to  our 
homes,  some  having  certain  days  of  the  month  called  children's  recep- 
tion day,  others  give  children's  parties  or  picnics,  Cliristmas  entertain- 
ments, and  many  have  mission  bands  and  children's  societies,  all 
these  being  ties  closely  drawing  about  them  and  holding  them  to  their 
Sunday  school  home.  We  also  remember  their  birthdays  by  a  letter, 
with  perhaps  a  pretty  card  enclosed,  and  some  of  the  teachei's  have 
the  children  remember  the  day  by  giving  a  thank-offering  the  Sunday 
after  their  birthday,  bringing  to  the  Sunday  school  and  placing  in 
the  birthday  bank  as  many  pennies  as  they  are  years  old,  and  then 
the  class  repeating  a  little  prayer  thanking  God  for  this  little  friend, 
and  asking  His  blessing  upon  her  for  the  coming  year.  We  lu-ge  them 
to  attend  church  service  by  keeping  a  record  of  church  attendance,  and 
our  pastors  help  us  by  feeding  the  lambs  as  well  as  the  sheep.  Oiu- 
motto  is,  Traia  the  children  for  Christ  now,  for  future  usefulness  in 


220  Manar/cmenl  of  Siindai/  Schools. 

the  chui'clics,  and  for  the  home  in  heaven.  You  say  all  this  takes 
time ;  so  it  does,  but  it  is  time  that  is  well  spent  that  is  spent  for 
eternity.  And  we  have  aids  in  our  woi'k  in  the  way  of  printed  invita- 
tions or  reminders  signed  by  the  teaehers.  These  are  used  in  inviting 
new  scholars,  looking  xip  the  absent  ones  and  seeking  assistance  of  the 
niothcrs  in  helping  the  cliildren  in  their  lessons,  or  sending  them  on 
time  to  the  school.  Other  of  our  cities  imite  and  appoint  from  each 
Sunday  school  a  committee  called  the  visiting  committee,  who  district 
<he  city  and  go  out  two  by  two  and  invite  those  not  attending  any 
school  to  some  school  near  them,  then  report  names  to  superintendent 
of  that  school,  and  he  and  his  teachers  seek  them  out  and  cai-e  for 
them. 

In  this  rapid  review,  perhaps,  I  have  told  you  notliing  new  nor  yet 
the  half  that  might  be  told  ;  these  arc  but  pebbles  on  the  shorCj  while 
deep  in  the  ocean  bed  lie  the  pearls. 

"  The  work  of  our  hands — establish  Thou  it, 

How  often  with  thoughtless  lips  wc  pray, 

But  He  who  sils  in  the  heavens  shall  say 

Is  the  work  of  your  hands  so  fair  and  fit 

That  ye  dare  so  pray  ? 

Softly  we  answer,  Lord  make  it  fit — 
The  work  of  our  handg,  that  so  we  may 
Lift  up  our  eyes,  and  dare  to  pray, 
The  work  of  our  hands — establish  Thou  it." 

Tlie  President  :  Tlie  lady  session  is  going  on  as  well  as  you  could 
dcsij'e,  and  now  we  sliall  be  glad  to  hear  Miss  Annie  Harlow. 


PKIMARY  WORK. 
Si/  Miss  Annie  S.  Hablow  {Lowell,  Mass.,   U.S.A.). 

Some  one  has  said  "  A  child  is  God's  problem  waiting  man's  solu- 
tion ;"  a  child  is  a  bundle  of  mighty  possibilities  for  good  or  evil. 

An  artist  painted  the  beautifid  face  of  a  boy  that  in  every  feature 
was  an  expression  of  innocency.  Years  later,  he  wished  another  face 
to  be  a  companion-piece  to  tliis,  that  should  in  all  its  hideousness 
repi'esent  sin.  To  secure  this,  he  visited  police  stations,  slums,  and 
prisons,  that  he  might  find  the  worst  and  most  hardened  face. 

When  the  picture  was  complete,  and  the  two  huiig  side  by  side,  it 
was  found  that  both  were  porti-aits  of  the  same  boy,  but,  oh,  how 
changed !  Such  is  the  hidden  possibility  in  the  children  about  us  ;  nor 
is  the  evil  washed  away,  nor  wholly  stayed,  when  death  removes  the 
wrong-doer.  The  life  leaves  beliind  its  branching  tract  of  sinful 
influences  and  downward  tendencies.  Dr.  Schaiiffler  says,  "  A  child  is 
like   a   sensitive   photographic    plate,    sensitive   beyond   all   power  of 


Prininry   WorL  221 

eoiJiparison  ;  open  to  (lie  riglit,  ui)L'n  also  (o  wrong  inllucnccs  ;  and 
these  shall  imiltiply  themselves  as  the  child  goes  out  in  life."  Can  this 
latter  result  be  prevented,  and  as  powerful  a  chain  of  good  be  set  in 
motion  ?  I  believe  so ;  but  the  impression  of  right  must  be  made 
while  the  nature  is  most  susceptible,  and  the  truth  planted  before  the 
weeds  of  sin  and  evil  habit  fix  their  roots  deep  in  the  heart.  A  garden 
left  to  itself  produces  weeds  ;  the  seeds  were  sown  the  previous  season. 
Thus,  in  the  human  heart,  the  evil  tendencies  were  there  by  inheritance, 
and  only  need  to  be  let  alone  to  produce  a  harvest  of  sin.  A  woman 
who  was  asked  if  she  believed  in  depravity  answered,  "  I  have  not 
brought  up  a  family  of  twelve  boys  without  being  convinced  of  it." 
Had  she  twelve  daughters,  she  woidd  have  found  tliey  vere  not  angels 
by  nature  cither,  but  the  grace  of  God  is  stronger  than  the  power  of 
Satan. 

The  earlier  the  grace  of  God  is  ingrafted  tlie  better,  for  sin  leaves 
traces  that  not  even  the  blood  of  the  infinite  Sou  of  God  can  wholly 
obliterate.  Wild  oats  sown  in  youth  yield  a  crop  of  sorrow  in  old 
age.  Jacob,  the  supplanter,  by  tlie  power  of  God  becomes  Israel,  the 
prevailer  and  prince  with  God  ;  but  see  the  sorrow  liis  sons  cause  huu 
in  his  old  age, — the  natural  fruit  of  the  sins  of  his  youth.  "  Whatso- 
ever a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap." 

Let  us  then,  as  parents  and  teachers,  strive  to  lead  the  little  feet  so 
early  in  God's  Avay  that  the  child  shall  not  be  able  to  tell  when  he 
chose  this  way.  It  is  only  necessary  for  him  to  know  that  he  is  now 
in  the  strait  and  narrow  path  of  hfe.  We  hear  people  say,  "  Let  a 
child  alone  till  he  comes  to  years  of  discretion,  and  let  him  choose 
unbiassed."  He  will  not,  and  cannot  be  imbiassed;  so  let  us  hedge 
him  about  and  hedge  him  in  by  God's  Word  and  rehgious  training. 
If  our  children  start  thus  early,  they  will  grow  up  strong  Cliristian 
men  and  women,  strong  in  every  Christian  grace,  "  rooted  and  grounded 
in  love,  built  up  in  the  faith,  and  stablished  in  Him,"  a  mighty 
influence  for  good  in  the  world. 

The  call  for  instruction  and  help  comes  up  from  the  children  them- 
selves, not  alone  through  their  possibilities  and  needs,  but  also  through 
their  susceptibility  to  religious  impressions.  As  has  been  before 
intimated,  it  is  the  impressible  age,  when  the  heart  is  easily  influenced 
to  choose  the  right.  At  twenty  the  character  becomes  pretty  firmly 
fixed,  and  the  likelihood  of  a  change  for  the  better  very  much  lessened. 
Out  of  that  vast  company  of  over  two  miUion  souls  that  were  induced  to 
turn  their  faces  toward  Canaan,  none  over  twenty  years  of  age,  excepting 
Joshua  and  Caleb,  ever  reached  the  Promised  Laud ;  their  characters 
were  fixed  in  sin. 

The  call  also  comes  from  the  pai'outs.  Every  Clu'istian  father  and 
mother  earnestly  desires  to  have  his  teaching  svipplemented  by  the 
Sunday  school,  and  every  man  wants  his  son  better  than  he  is  liimself. 

If  om-  ears  were  attuned  aright,  we  would  hear  an  unuttered  cry  from 
a  multitude  of  men  and  women  whose  only  hope  of  beir.g  reached  and 


222  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

taught  is  tlirougU  tlieir  little  ones.  If  we  take  the  lambs,  the  sheep  are 
likely  to  follow.  How  often  the  prophecy  comes  true,  "  A  little  child 
shall  lead  them."  A  little  five-year-old  gii-1  was  brought  into  the 
Sunday  scliool,  and  there  learned  to  know  the  Saviour ;  tlu'ough  her 
the  mother  was  led  to  choose  the  same  Redeemer,  and,  later,  an  infidel 
father  yielded  to  the  Spii-it  of  God,  then  an  aunt  and  cousin  were 
numbered  in  the  Christian  company.  If  such  is  the  known  result,  what 
must  that  be  which  is  seen  only  by  the  heavenly  host  ?  The  call  comes 
from  God  Himself,  and  is  accompanied  with  promises  of  blessing. 

If  we  were  attentive,  we  should  hear  Him  say  to  us  as  to  Hannah  of 
old,  "  Take  this  child  and  train  liim  for  me.  Take  these  children  and 
teach  them  for  me."  "  It  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  in  heaven  that 
one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish." 

Like  John  we  are  to  prepare  "  the  way  of  the  Lord,"  and  the  "  sun 
of  righteousness  shall  arise  with  healmg  in  his  wings." 

"  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall 
doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him." 
The  harvest  may  be  delayed,  but  the  promise  remaineth  sure. 

The  story  is  told,  I  think  by  Dr.  Yincent,  of  a  mei-chant  whose 
business  took  him  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  where  he  saw  the  beautiful 
silver-leafed  poppy  growing  freely.  He  gathered  of  the  seeds  and 
scattered  them  abundantly  upon  the  plateau,  hoping  to  see  them 
gi'owing  there  also.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  in  this  country. 
The  next  year  his  business  again  called  him  to  that  land.  He  visited 
the  highlands  to  see  the  residt  of  his  sowing,  but  found  nothing  but 
briers  and  weeds.  After  ten  years,  he  paid  a  tliird  visit  to  the  place, 
and  what  a  change  met  his  sight !  The  whole  plateau  was  one  great 
bed  of  the  beautiful  flowers.  A  fu-e  had  swept  over  it,  and  bm-ned 
away  the  briers  and  weeds,  and  the  seed  that  had  so  long  lain  dormant 
had  sprung  into  life  and  beauty.  So,  the  axithor  says,  it  may  reqiui'e 
some  fire  of  temptation  or  afiliction  to  burn  away  the  briers  and  weeds 
of  sin  before  the  truths  we  sow  shall  take  root.  But  soiuing  shall  be 
followed  by  reaping. 

Tliis  is  an  important  work  ;  its  importance  cannot  be  overestimated, 
and  it  calls  for  proper  instruments  to  cany  it  on.  The  most  skilful 
carpenter's  woi-k  would  be  hindered  by  poor  tools. 

The  little  children  need  a  room,  separate  from  the  main  school,  that 
they  may  not  disturb  the  others,  nor  be  distiu-bed  by  them. 

There  should  be  more  variety  in  the  exercises  for  the  little  ones. 
Cliildi-eu  delight  to  sing,  and  it  woidd  be  well  for  them  to  sing  oftener 
than  is  possible  in  the  room  with  the  adults,  who  almost  begrudge  any 
time  taken  from  the  lesson  itself.  That  was  a  wise  man  who  said,. 
"Let  me  make  the  songs  of  a  nation,  and  I  care  not  who  makes  its 
laws."  Our  childi-en  should  be  taught  some  standard  hymns  of  the 
church,  but  they  should  also  learn  many  of  the  beautiful,  helpfid  songs 
of  childhood.  A  truth  oft  repeated  in  song  will  become  part  of  the 
child;  the  rhythm  and  the  music  are  its  wings  that  carry  it  to  the^ 


Primanj   Work  223 

]ieart,  ami  out  into  the  homes,  llow  many  men  have  been  brouglit  to 
Christ  by  a  sonfj ! 

Let  lis  sent!  t  lie  good  tidings  of  the  beautiful  land  aliead  on  the  wings 
of  song,  tliat  tlio  sin-to?scd  mariners,  warned  of  the  approaching  shore, 
shall  study  their  eompass  and  guide  theu'  ships  by  tlie  bright  and 
morning  star. 

Tliis  room,  which  is  needed,  should  be  pleasant  and  well  lighted,  and 
is  better  if  carpeted  and  the  walls  hiuig  with  appropriate  pictures. 

The  chairs  should  be  low  and  comfortable.  There  should  also  be 
seats  i^rovided  for  the  parents,  that  they  may  feel  themselves  always 
invited  to  be  present.  Theii*  presence  would  be  a  mutual  help  to 
themselves  and  to  the  teacher.  It  is  a  Christian  mother's  duty  to  know 
what  teaching  her  child  is  receiving,  and  she  may  gain  some  help  from 
the  teacher  as  to  methods  of  instructing.  Many  parents,  who  would 
utterly  refuse  an  invitation  to  the  adult  department,  gladly  accept  the 
opportunity  to  visit  the  children's  room.  This  is  one  of  the  nets 
spread  for  catching  them.  A  few  Sundays  may  make  them  feel  enough 
nt  home  to  join  the  Bible  class. 

An  organ  and  a  cabinet  in  such  a  room  are  helpful,  but  a  good 
black-board  is  indispensable  to  the  best  work.  I  was  about  to  say  in- 
dispensable to  good  work.  Elaborate  black-board  work  is  not  necessary  ; 
usually  the  simpler  the  work  the  better. 

Dr.  Peloubct  says  :  "  Black-board  work  is  like  a  telescope  :  tlirough  it 
we  look  at  what  lies  beyond." 

There  are  two  other  necessities  in  this  room  beside  the  children — a 
skilful,  consecrated  teacher,  &\\A.  fresh  air ;  and  the  latter  is  the  harder 
to  obtain,  and  often  defeats  all  the  efforts  of  the  former.  The  demon 
of  foul  au"  does  more  mischief  than  all  the  proverbial  miscliievous  boys 
I)ut  ^together.  It  even  defeats  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by 
duUing  the  sensibilities  to  hearing  and  feeling  the  truth, 

Mrs.  Wheeler  has  told  you  how  to  gather  the  children  into  the 
school.  The  next  question  is,  how  to  keep  them  there.  It  requires 
skill  to  get  fish  into  the  net,  but  more  to  safely  land  them. 

Having  the  childi-en  brought  within  our  reach,  let  us  consider  some 
of  the  ways  of  holding  them  there. 

Evei'y  primary  teacher  should  be  in  her  place  in  season  to  greet  the 
children.  There  is  great  power  iu  the  shake  of  the  hand,  and  iu  liearmg 
one's  own  name,  and  au  inquiry  that  makes  one  feel  that  he  is  an  in- 
dividual separate  from  all  the  rest  of  the  class,  be  they  few  or  many,  by 
his  own  individuality.  The  salutation  often  proves  the  "  Open  sesame !  " 
of  the  heart.  If  a  little  boy,  to  whom  new  boots  are  a  rarity,  comes 
into  the  class,  why  not  take  note  of  them  by  saying,  "  What  beautiful 
new  boots !  IIow  quickly  they  will  run  when  mother  calls  !  "  That 
word  of  yours  will  help  them  to  keep  in  the  right  way  for  a  week,  and 
it  will  be  taking  time  by  the  foi'elock,  and  save  jou  from  being  obliged 
to  see  them  later,  for  they  will  occupy  the  small  boy's  time  and  thought 
till  you  have  obseiTcd  them.     Don't  you  know  liow  he  feels  ?     I  do. 


224  Management  of  Sitndai/  Scliools. 

This  is  also  an  excellent  tiuie  to  inquire  about  the  family,  but 
that  cannot  be  done  with  efiect  until  we  have  become  personally 
acquainted  with  the  home-life  of  the  child.  To  acqiui-e  this  know- 
ledge requires  work ;  but  it  pays,  for  we  are  working  for  immortal 
souls,  and  are  starting  a  train  of  influences  the  end  of  which  no  man 
can  see. 

Did  you  ever  overhear  childi-en  talking  of  their  teachers  ?  "  My 
teacher,"  says  one,  "  is  lovely ;  she  came  to  see  me  when  I  was  sick." 
"  I  shall  never  forget  how  my  teacher  called  when  mother  was  sick," 
says  a  second.  And  another  with  tears  tells  how  her  teacher  came 
"  when  the  baby  died." 

If  you  have  not  made  calling  at  the  homes  of  the  children  a  part  of 
your  systematic  work,  you  have  not  yet  experienced  the  joy  of  teaching. 
Try  it  for  a  year,  and  see  if  you  do  not  say  with  me,  "  Woe  is  me  if  I 
teach  not." 

If  a  child  is  absent  two  Sabbaths,  let  us  visit  his  home,  either  in 
person  or  by  letter.  This  personal  oversight  is  like  a  cord  binding  him 
to  the  school.  Add  a  UrtMay  letter,  and  it  shall  become  a  "  threefold 
cord  not  easily  bi-oken." 

It  is  a  great  pleasure  to  a  child  to  receive  a  letter  for  himself,  and 
having  his  own  address.  Its  contents  will  be  read  and  re-read,  and 
treasured  in  the  heart.  The  little  child  who  does  not  know  a  letter  in 
the  alphabet  will  read  you  his  letter  verbatim.  This  is  also  another 
bait  sent  out  to  catch  the  non-church-going  parents. 

In  our  school,  the  children  whose  birthdays  come  the  following  week 
stand  by  the  side  of  the  teacher  in  charge,  while  the  scholars  follow  her 
sentence  by  sentence  in  prayer,  asking  God's  blessing  upon  those  who 
are  entering  new  years.  While  still  standing,  these  children  drop  their 
birthday  offerings  into  the  box  kept  for  that  piu'pose,  thus  receiving  and 
giving  a  blessing. 

One  word  to  those  who  are  not  familiar  with  this  way  of  teaching 
the  children  to  pray.  The  teacher  asks,  "  What  have  you  to  thank  God 
for  to-day  ?"  After  the  first  Sabbath  there  will  be  little  hesitation  in 
findint"  many  blessings  for  which  to  retiu-n  thanks,  or  needs  that  call 
for  help.  Parents  will  often  send  word  if  then*  little  ones  are  sick. 
Covering  all  these  subjects,  the  teacher  leads  in  prayer,  the  children 
following  sentence  by  sentence. 

What  shall  we  use  for  the  lessons  m  this  class  ?  I  unhesitatingly 
answer,  the  International  lessons.  Wliile  they  contain  strong  meat  for 
adult  minds,  there  is  also  in  each  one  enough  digestible  food  for  the 
healthy  growth  of  the  child. 

Kow  these  lessons  shall  be  taught  is  a  much  more  difficult  question 
to  answer.  The  Sunday  school  hour  is  veiy  short ;  and  unless  much 
preparation  is  made,  the  time  will  sHp  by  and  nothing  will  be  accom- 
plished. With  many  of  our  children,  it  is  all  the  rehgious  instruction 
they  are  receiving  ;  and  unless  they  receive  the  truth  now,  and  become 
Cliristians,  they  will  soon  sUp  from  us,  never  again  to  come  under 


Wceh  Sirnliuj  Engagements.  'Zij 

gojpol  teaching'.     Grout    things  can   bo  uocomplishcd   wliou  euincicul. 
preparation  is  mack-. 

A  ie-,v  vcars  ago  Boston  Loilge  lii^lilliouse  was  dostroyecl ;  prepara- 
tions vcrc  iinniodialclv  niailr  to  robnild  it.  The  lirst  ycai-  the  tido 
receded  far  enough  to  allow  the  men  fifteen  minutes  a  day  for  three 
days  to  work  upon  it ;  the  next  year  tlie  work  was  puslied  for  two 
weeks  ;  and  tlie  third  summer  tiie  work  was  completed.  And  there  it 
stands,  not  alone  a  lighthouse  to  the  sailors,  but  a  monument  to  you 
and  me,  showing  how  much  can  be  done  icheu  (jreat  preparation  is 
made. 

Let  us  in  teaching  use  as  many  of  the  faculties  and  senses  of  the 
class  as  we  can.  As  far  as  possible  adapt  the  secular  school  methods 
to  Sunday-school  teaching.  As  "  childi'en  of  light,"  rejecting  the 
wrong,  adopt  from  "  this  generation,"  whatever  is  true  and  helpful. 

A  child  defective  in  either  sight  or  hearing  develops  less  readily  than 
those  of  otherwise  equal  ability.  A  fact  may  "  enter  one  car  and  go 
out  the  other"  ;  "but  who  ever  heard,"  says  one,  "of  its  entering  one 
eye,  and  going  out  of  the  other  ?"  Satan  uses  both  these  channels  for 
instilling  en-or.  A  boy  never  walks  the  streets  of  our  large  cities  with- 
out sin  knocking  at  both  these  doors.  Everj'  Simday's  lesson  should 
also  knock,  and  knock  louder,  and  push  its  way  in  and  bar  the  door 
against  error  by  "  Thus  saitli  the  Lord."  When  the  lesson  is  taught 
by  the  use  of  the  black-board,  pictm-c  chart,  or  other  objects,  both  the 
sight  and  hearing  are  used,  and  the  more  trutli  enters  through  tlie  eye. 
Here  let  me  heartily  recommend  the  "Bible  Lesson  Piftures."  In  tlu< 
Providence  Litliograph  Company,  to  aU  primary  tea<-iiers. 

What  easier  way  to  show  a  child  the  nature  of  sin  tlian  to  see  a  ^la.-s 
of  pui-e  water,  the  pictm-e  of  a  child  just  from  God ;  introduce  some 
coloviring  substance  to  show  that  sin  defiles  every  part  of  the  heart. 
Put  in  more  and  more  till  deeply  coloiu'ed.  Such  is  the  unforgiven 
heart ;  but  it  can  be  changed.  Show  the  change  m  the  water  by  intro- 
ducing some  chemical  that  shall  make  it  again  pure.  So  the  lieart  can 
be  made  "clean"  by  the  entering  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

To  show  the  power  of  sin  and  the  strength  of  bad  habits,  show  how 
easily  a  fine  thread  can  be  broken  ;  bind  a  child's  hands  together  with 
it,  by  passing  it  many  times  roimd,  and  he  will  find  he  cannot  break 
away.  The  more  he  struggles  to  free  himself,  the  more  conscious  he 
becomes  that  he  cannot  do  it.  Some  one  else  must  release  him.  So 
Christ  alone  can  deliver  us  from  the  bondage  of  sin ;  oui*  struggles 
simply  show  how  utterly  helpless  we  are. 

Lessons  taught  in  this  way  not  only  impress  the  seholars,  but  help 
them  in  carrying  the  truth  to  their  hoilies. 

A  little  gu-1  who  was  taught  in  this  way  in  Sunday-school,  but  who 
never  received  any  religious  instruction  at  home,  came  to  me  one 
morning  with  a  paper  box  she  had  herself  made,  with  places  cut  out  for 
"  gates,"  and  she  said,  "  This  is  the  city  of  Jerusalem ;  that  block  pasted 
in  the  middle  is  the  temple  ;  that  one,  the  upper  chamber  j  this  one, 

Q 


220  Maii{i(f6mrni  of  Hundny  Scliooh. 

the  priest's  liouso ;  and  this,  Herod's  pahicc."  She  also  had  a  smalloi> 
box,  wliicli  slio  inrormod  mc  was  the  Garden  of  Gethsemanc  :  "  Tlicse 
eight  pieces  of  paper,"  she  said,  "  down  by  the  gate,  are  the  eight 
disciples  whom  Jesus  left  when  he  entered  the  garden  ;  and  these  three, 
over  in  the  other  part,  ai'e  Peter,  James,  and  John,  whom  Jesus  took 
with  Him  to  watch  and  pray."  She  had  also  cut  out  of  stilT  paper  the 
swords  and  spears  of  the  soldiers.  She  will  not  soon  forget  that  lesson. 
Get  your  little  children  to  "  doing"  the  lessons  in  some  such  way,  and  they 
will  always  remember  them.  Send  the  children  home  to  the  sand  pile 
to  make  the  Moimt  of  OUves,  with  Jerusalem  on  one  side  and  Bethany 
ou  the  other.  The  walls  of  Jerusalem  can  be  constructed  with  the 
common  building  blocks  used  by  the  children,  and  the  temple  repre- 
sented by  one  large  block,  and  the  other  places  of  interest  by  smaller 
ones.  Bethany's  low  buildings  can  be  made  real  by  more  of  these  same 
blocks.  A  cliild  will  delight  to  foUow  Glu'ist's  movements  and  teach- 
ings thi'ough  Passion  Week  in  this  simple  way.  Prove  it,  and  see  for 
yom-self  if  it  is  not  true. 

Who  sliall  teach  this  class  ?  Not  an  angel  from  heaven — his  presence 
would  be  too  discom-agmg — but  some  earnest,  consecrated  person,  man 
or  woman,  with  a  motherly  heart  and  a  motherly  abihty  of  devising 
ways  and  means.     The  Spirit  of  God  will  complete  the  work. 

Christ's  word  is,  "  Follow  Me,  and  I  will  make  you  to  become  fishero 
of  men." 


CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOUR  SOCIETIES  IN  SUNDAY 
SCHOOLS. 

'By  Peopessoe  Charles  F.  Bkadley,  D.D^  {Evanston,  Illinois, 
U.S.A.). 

What  more  can  we  do  to  keep  our  young  people  in  the  Sunday 
school?  This  is  one  of  the  most  perplexing  and  m-gent  questions 
before  us,  and  one  worthy  of  general  discussion.  That  much  has  been 
done,  we  know ;  that  more  should  be  done,  we  donbtlese  agree.  So 
careful  and  thoroughly  informed  a  Sunday  school  writer  as  Dr.  H.  Clay 
Trumbidl  says,  "  It  is  probable  that  more  than  one  half  of  aU  the 
scholars  who  are  brought  under  the  oversight  of  teachers  in  our  Sunday 
schools,  in  city  and  country  the  world  over,  are  lost  to  the  Sunday 
school." 

The  loss  is  certainly  alarming,  and  presents  the  most  serious  un- 
solved problem  in  the  whole  range  of  Simday  school  work. 

I.  Of  the  remedies  proposed  the  most  common  may  be  classed  mider 
the  head  of  expedients  for  making  the  Sunday  school  more  interesting 
to  senior  scholars.  The  most  radical  of  them  is  that  advocated  by 
Bishop  Yincent,  of  Chautauqua  fame,  whose  skill  and  experience  in 
Sunday  school  Avork  make  all  his  suggestions  worthy  of  most  careful 


Uhrhiian  Endeavour  Societies  in  Sunday  Schools.     227 

thought,  llo  proposes  a  separate  senior  department  with  some  peculiar 
methods  which  shall  bear  the  novel  name  of  "  The  Assembly."  Up  to 
tlic  present  time,  liowever,  this  plan  has  not  been  practically  successful 
to  any  noticeable  extent.  The  Enghsh  advdt  liible  classes  are  similar 
in  principle,  and  their  growth  is  significant  and  promising. 

The  occasional  success  of  an  exceptionally  good  Bible  class  teacher 
in  gathering  and  holding  a  mammoth  class  is  a  proof  of  the  large 
number  of  young  people  who  are  on  the  outskirts  of  our  Sunday 
schools  and  yet  not  generally  brought  in.  If  we  could  secin-e  a  largo 
supply  of  such  teachers,  our  problem  would  be  solved.  The  late 
President  Garfield's  remark  has  become  historic,  that  he  would  be 
satisfied  with  a  college  which  should  consist  of  a  log  cabin  containing 
a  wooden  bench,  with  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins  on  one  end  of  it  as  teacher 
and  himself  on  the  other  end  as  student.  The  great  teachers  of  the 
world  have  needed  little  apparatus  and  resorted  to  few  expedients ; 
but,  unless  the  heavens  shall  cloud  over  and  rain  down  such  exceptional 
teachers  for  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  we  are  not  likely  to  have  a 
supply  equal  to  the  demand. 

Other  attractions  which  have  found  favour  are  those  varied  and 
excellent  social  and  literary  entertainments,  some  of  which  have  been 
so  delightfully  described  to-day.  But,  without  detracting  one  whit  from 
their  high  object  and  valuable  results,  we  must  admit  that  their  scope 
is  limited,  and  that  they  often  supplant  rather  than  recruit  the  Sunday 
school.  They  are  quite  powerless  above  a  certain  grade  in  the  social 
scale.  They  attract  and  hold  those  only  who  have  no  more  enjoyable 
recreations.  The  world  can  easUy  outbid  the  chm-ch  in  interesting 
those  young  people  whose  chief  end  is  self-gratification.  Sin,  as  Austin 
Phelps  has  said,  has  a  certain  raciness  about  it  which  innocent  diver- 
sions lack. 

With  all  our  expedients,  too  many  of  om*  schools  are  like  the  Lodore 
"Waterfall  in  summer,  which  has  everything  needfid  to  make  it  a  fine 
waterfall,  except  tlu:  water.  Many  a  pastor  and  supei-rntendent  bears 
about  an  aching  heart  because  of  the  scaixity  of  yoimg  people  in  the 
Sunday  school, 

II,  Experience  has  commended  a  aecond  remedy  which  has  not  been 
00  thoroughly  tried.  It  consists  in  putting  the  young  people  at  work. 
What  superintendent  has  not  been  amazed  at  the  fideUty  and  interest 
of  some  young  man  or  woman,  who  seems  otherwise  rather  worldly- 
minded,  who  has  been  made  secretary,  or  Ubrariau,  or  treasm-er  of  the 
school  ?  This  fact  should  teach  us  a  lesson.  Working  for  a  good 
cause,  even  from  a  comparatively  low  motive,  excites  om*  interest  in  it. 
And  this  principle  should  lead  us  to  enUst  the  seiTices  of  the  yoxmg 
people  to  the  largest  possible  extent  in  Sunday  school  work.  We 
should  midtiply  positions  and  devise  new  work.  We  might  well  in- 
crease the  amount  of  visitation  and  invitation,  and  add  the  work  of 
reading  to  the  sick,  and   carrying  flowers  to  the  hospitals,  and  other 

Q2 


228  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

benevolent  services.     Such  practices  by  Sunday  scliool  scholars  were 
commended  by  John  Wesley  as  long  ago  as  1787. 

And  right  here  the  young  people's  societies  of  Christian  Endeavour, 
and  similar  associations  offer  to  superintendent  and  pastor  an  immense 
advantage.  Por  these  are  societies  of  young  people  whose  active 
members  are  organized  and  pledged  to  do  Christian  ioorJc.  The  pledge 
of  the  Endeavour  Societies  has  specific  reference  to  attendance  upon 
and  participation  in  the  young  people's  prayer-meetings,  yet  their 
general  obUgatiou  is  to  Christian  activity.  Theh  general  motto  is 
"  For  Christ  and  the  church,"  and  the  ahnost  unanimous  testimony  of 
pastors  and  superintendents  is  that  the  organization  of  such  a  society 
tends  to  the  revival  of  interest  in  all  the  departments  of  Church  work 
which  are  open  to  the  young  people.  The  essential  committees  are  the 
prayer-meeting,  look-out,  social  and  missionary  committees ;  but  a 
Sunday  school  committee  is  very  common,  and  a  little  tact  on  the  part 
of  a  superintendent  could  doubtless  secure  one  in  every  case.  And 
this  forms  the  natural  connecting  link  between  the  Sunday  school  and 
the  Endeavour  Society. 

My  American  fellow-delegates  will  agree  tliat  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  societies  of  young  people,  and  notably  of  the  Societies  of  Christian 
Endeavour,  constitute  one  of  the  most  marked,  significant,  and  promis- 
ing features  of  our  present  reUgious  life.  Tlie  Convention  of  the 
Chi'istian  Endeavour  Societies  in  Chicago  a  year  ago  was  a  remarkable 
gathering.  No  less  than  4000  delegates  were  present,  representing  a 
total  membership  of  more  than  200,000.  A  sph-it  of  sensible  enthusiasm 
and  of  consecration  marked  the  meetings. 

At  a  morning  prayer-meeting,  held  as  early  as  half-past  six,  not  less 
than  two  thousand  were  present.  The  name  of  the  founder,  the  Rev. 
Francis  E.  Clark,  has  become  a  household  word  with  these  many 
thousands  of  members  ;  and  the  organ  of  the  societies,  the  Golden  Rule, 
under  his  editorship,  has  now  a  high  place  among  useful  papers  foi' 
Christian  workers.  With  wise  moderation  and  a  single-minded  devo- 
tion to  the  spiritual  ends  in  view,  Mr.  Clark  has  used  the  large 
influence  providentially  given  to  him. 

About  a  year  ago  he  visited  England  at  the  request  of  prominent 
men  here,  and  represented  his  cause  before  the  committee  of  the 
Sunday  School  Union.  It  is  a  credit  to  the  wisdom  of  these  gentle- 
men that  they  have  adopted  the  Christian  Endeavour  work  as  a  depai't- 
ment  of  effort,  and  under  the  honorary  secretaryship  of  Mr.  Charles 
Waters  the  present  year  has  witnessed  a  healthful  growth. 

The  approaching  Convention  in  Philadelphia  will  bring  together  the 
representatives  of  not  less  than  7000  societies  in  aU,  containing  at  least 
400,000  members.  It  is  this  vast  and  rapidly  increasing  army  of 
young  people  and  another  probably  equal  to  it  in  the  EpwOrth  League, 
of  which  Dr.  J.  L.  Hui'lbut  is  president,  and  in  other  societies,  which 
offers  itself  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  Sunday  school.  How  can  we  afford 
to  lose  its  active  co-operation?    It  seeks  the  same  great  end  as  the 


Christian  Endeavour  Socielics  in  Sundaii  Scliool.'<.     229 

Sunday  scliool,  the  birth  and  development  of  Christian  character.  By 
its  two  classes  of  active  and  associate  membership,  tlie  latter  consisting 
of  those  who  have  not  yet  made  a  Christian  confession,  yet  promise 
to  attend  the  prayer-meetings,  it  provides  an  efllclent  agency  for 
inviting  and  winning  to  Christian  decision.  The  year  before  tliis 
not  less  than  22,000  conversions  were  reported  among  tlie  asBoclato 
members. 

III.  The  Christian  Endeavour  Societies  offer  to  superintendents 
young  people  pledged  to  Christian  service  who  may  be  enlisted  as 
workers  for  the  sake  of  Christ. 

At  the  Chicago  Convention,  before  referred  to,  it  was  recommended 
that  in  the  larger  societies  the  Sunday  school  committee  should  consist 
of  no  fewer  than  twenty,  who  should  be  carefully  chosen  on  the  grounds 
of  tact  and  fitness.  These  were  to  devote  themselves  to  inviting  new 
members  into  the  school  and  to  visiting  delinquent  scholars  and  un- 
reached families.  Happy  the  superintendent  who  can  command  a  corps 
of  helpers  like  tliis. 

In  the  all-important  matter  of  securing  suitable  teachers,  the 
Endeavour  Societies  present  material  at  least  partly  trained.  A  plan 
not  yet  widely  known  seems  practical  to  further  prepare  and  test  these 
candidates  for  the  teacher's  position.  It  is  that  of  a  teacher's  reserve 
class,  which  under  the  best  teacher  which  can  be  secured  shall  study 
the  lesson  one  week  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  school. 

Every  member  of  the  class  must  pledge  him  or  herself  to  be  in 
readiness  to  teach  as  a  supply  every  alternate  week  at  the  call  of  the 
superintendent.  By  this  means  the  young  teacher  only  attempts  to 
impart  the  lesson  in  which  he  has  been  thoroughly  instructed  the 
previous  week.  In  tliis  reserve  class  much  normal  work  might  be 
incidentally  done.  Practical  application  would  be  imited  with  instruc- 
tion. Young  teachers  could  be  tested  and  their  peculiar  adaptations 
discovered.  Surely  many  a  superintendent  would  have  his  heaviest 
burden  removed  if  he  could  have  such  a  reserve  corps  of  teachers  at 
command.  The  young  people  entering  into  Sunday  school  work  from 
the  love  of  Christ  would  be  attracted  and  permanently  held  by  Him 
who,  being  lifted  up,  draws  all  men  unto  Him. 

The  constraining  love  of  Christ  which  has  di'awn  us  together  here 
across  the  seas  is  the  power  which  we  must  trust  to  keep  our  young 
people  in  the  Sunday  school.  These  leaders  in  Sunday  school  work 
upon  this  platform  and  these  delegates  did  not  learn  to  love  this  work 
because  of  what  was  done  for  them  in  the  Sunday  school,  but  because 
of  what  has  been  done  by  them  out  of  love  to  Christ  and  their  fellow- 
men.  One  of  the  striking  characteristics  of  the  Endeavour  Society  is 
the  faith  of  its  leaders  in  the  attractive  power  of  Christ  and  the 
Christian  life.  It  is,  as  the  translation  of  the  name  of  a  society  formed 
in  a  mission  field  signifies,  the  Cliristian  society  which  tries,  it  tries  for 
the  love  of  Christ  and  in  His  name. 


230  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

IV.  In  a  marked  degree  the  societies  of  Christian  Endeavour  consti- 
tute the  golden  link  between  the  Sunday  school  and  the  church. 
How  hard  it  often  seems  to  bring  our  scholars  to  the  point  of  Cln-istiau 
decision  and  tlie  entrance  into  Christian  activity !  Interruptions  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  lesson  lead  us  to  postpone  the  personal  appeal. 
The  appeal,  if  made  m  the  class  or  in  private,  seems  to  bo  unheeded. 
We  i^ray  for  a  revival  to  move  them.  Will  the  young  people's  society 
meetings  give  frequent  invitations  to  Christian  decision,  and  then  have 
the  immeasurable  advantage  of  coming  from  those  of  nearlj'  the  same 
age  as  the  invited.  The  mysterious  power  exerted  upon  us  all  by  those 
of  similar  age  and  tastes  is  wielded  on  the  side  of  the  Christian  life. 

"We  send  om*  sons  to  the  masters,"  says  a  proverb,  "and  their 
schoolmates  educate  them."  We  may  well  bow  our  heads,  which  are 
gi'ey,  or  rapidly  becoming  so,  in  thankfulness  that  young  Christians, 
manly,  womanly,  and  fired  by  a  holy  enthusiasm,  are  devoting  themselves 
bj'  the  hundred  thousand  to  helping  each  other  and  others  in  and  into 
the  Christian  life. 

Like  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, the  Sunday  school  and  the  Christian  Temperance  Unions,  these 
young  people's  societies  are  hastening  the  day  of  a  complete  Clu-istian 
union,  and  so  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  John  Wesley,  whose  gi-ave  is 
over  yonder  in  the  City  Koad,  desired,  he  said,  to  form  a  league  offensive 
and  defensive  with  every  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  If  these  great  organi- 
zations just  named  and  the  people  they  represent  could  fully  unite  in 
such  a  league,  turn  all  theu-  guns  upon  then*  common  foes,  and  none 
upon  each  other,  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  their  common  Lord 
would  be  greatly  hastened. 

The  President  :  Perhaps  the  most  interesting  development  of 
Sunday  school  work  of  late  years  in  this  coiuitry  has  been  the  move- 
ment m  the  direction  of  adult  classes  which  our  friend  Councillor  Pitt, 
of  West  Bromwich,  will  now  proceed  to  describe  to  you. 


SUNDAY  AFTEENOON  ADULT  BIBLE  CLASSES. 
By  CoTJNCiLLOE  Pitt  (West  BromtuicJi). 

I  SHOULD  like  to  say,  Mr.  Cnairman,  at  the  outset,  that  not  only  the 
members  of  my  class,  but  also  the  members  of  many  other  classes  in 
the  Midlands,  feel  deeply  sensible  of  the  great  honour  which  the  com- 
mittee of  this  Convention  have  conferred  upon  them  by  asking  one  of 
their  number  to  give  an  account  of  the  work  in  which  so  many  of  us 
are  engaged  on  Sunday  afternoons. 

The  work  we  are  doing  in  connection  with  our  "  Adult  Bible  Classes  " 
win  stand  examination  in  the  light  of  day. 

Our  work  is  founded  upon  the  recognition  of  the  Bible  as  being  the 
Word  of  God,  that  Jesus  Clirist  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  that  the 


Adiill  Classes.  231 

Gospel  is  Uie  only  means  hj  wliicli  our  fellow-men  can  be  restored  to 
their  Heavenly  Father,  and  that  these  adult  Bible  classes  assist 
greatly  in  bringing  aljout  the  brof  lierhood  of  man  of  which  we  hear  so 
much  in  these  days. 

Subsequent  to  the  establishment,  and  rapid  extension  of  Sunday  and 
Day  schools,  it  was  found  that  many  of  our  youths  were  pro  wing  up 
xmablo  to  read  or  write,  and  without  a  knowledge  of  God's  Word. 

It  was  this  deplorable  state  of  tilings  which  led  Mr.  Joseph  Sturge, 
of  Birmingham,  about  forty  years  ago  to  commence  "an  early  Sunday 
morning  school "  for  neglected  and  wayward  youths  to  learn  to  read 
and  wi-ite  and  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  God's  Word. 

Tliis  noble  and  pliilantliropic  movement  has  grown  into  a  great  and 
floiirishing  cause,  extending  its  ramifications  into  many  of  our  towns 
and  villages,  by  which  means  thousands  of  our  working  men  are 
brought  into  contact  with  God's  Word  every  Lord's  Day. 

My  old  tutor,  Mr.  James  Scattergood,  of  West  Bromwich,  about 
the  year  1854,  thirty-five  years  ago,  commenced  a  Bible  class  for  men 
for  the  pui-pose  of  combating  scepticism  and  infidelity  in  their  various 
insidious  forms.  In  this  way  our  friend  laboured  most  successfully 
over  twenty-five  years.  But  I  think  it  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that 
however  desirable  it  may  be  to  combat  and  counteract  the  evil  influences 
of  infidehty  (and  we  all  know  it  is  often  necessary  and  desirable  to  do 
8o),  that  this  is  not  the  best  method  of  reaching  the  masses  to-day. 

My  fi-iend  Mr.  Blackham,  of  West  Bromwich,  was  the  first,  I 
believe  to  commence,  in  1875,  what  he  has  called  "  pleasant  afternoon 
classes  "  for  young  men  only. 

Tlu'ee  of  the  principal  featm-es  of  tliis  class  were  the  adopt  ion  of  the 
card  of  membership,  the  system  of  giving  prizes,  and  each  member 
contributing  a  penny  weekly.  We  shall  have  to  say  more  about  these 
classes  after  I  have  given  you  an  historical  account  of  the  various  kinds 
of  Bible  classes  which  we  now  find  in  full  swing. 

Mr.  Hartshorne,  of  Birmingham,  was  the  first  to  start  a  Sunday 
afternoon  school  for  men  and  women  to  learn  to  read  and  vn-ite.  This 
school  contains  between  400  and  500  members.  The  men  read  and 
write  in  classes  separate  from  the  women,  while  the  women  meet  in 
their  several  classes  in  separate  rooms ;  but  both  men  and  women 
join  in  the  opening  and  closing  parts  of  the  school  services. 

I  now  come  to  the  formation  of  "  Adult  Bible  Classes,"  composed  of 
men  and  women  as  we  have  them  to-day  in  many  towns.  These 
classes  have  been  called  "  pleasant  afternoon  classes,"  but  I  prefer  to 
recognise  in  a  more  definite  form  the  good  old  Book  in  connection  with 
the  name  of  our  classes. 

I  think  it  is  better  and  more  appropriate  to  call  them  "  Sunday 
Afternoon  Adult  Bible  Classes,"  as  all  om*  addresses  should  be  based 
upon  Bible  truths,  and  in  some  way  lead  up  to  that  Saviour  ©f  which 
the  Word  of  God  speaks. 

We  all  know  that  the  children  of  our  Sunday  schools  come  to  us 


232  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

about  the  age  of  five  oi*  six  and  remain  with  U3  until  they  are  about 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years  old.  Tlie  question  has  been  asked  again 
and  again,  "How  can  we  best  retain  our  elder  scholars?"  Every 
teacher  knows  that  after  ten  or  twelve  years  of  earnest  labour  with  and 
for  liis  scholars  that  many  of  them  drop  out  of  sight  at  the  ages  jusfc 
mentioned.  I  believe  our  Adult  Bible  Class  movement  has  enabled  us 
to  solve  this  question. 

I  do  not  think  I  can  explain  tliis  better  than  by  showing  you  how 
we  in  West  Bromwich  have  solved  it  for  ourselves,  and  how  it  has 
been  copied  by  many  other  towns. 

When  a  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school  about  nine  years  ago  at 
West  Bromwich,  I  met  with  the  difficulty  of  our  senior  scholars 
leaving  us  at  the  ages  already  mentioned.  I  gave  up  being  superin- 
tendent to  take  a  class  of  eleven  young  men,  with  the  object  of  trying 
to  retain  our  elder  scholars. 

I  noticed  that  many  of  our  old  scholars  of  both  sexes,  about  the  age 
of  twenty-one  or  twenty-two,  were  in  the  habit  of  taking  then'  walks 
together  on  Sunday  afternoons.  This  set  me  thinking.  I  remembered 
that  the  concert  hall  and  the  theatre  made  special  arrangements,  and 
offered  many  inducements  to  gain  their  attendance. 

The  thought  occurred  to  my  mind  that,  if  these  young  men  and 
women  were  so  much  sought  after  by  the  world  for  the  sake  of  making 
money,  how  much  more  should  the  church  and  the  Sunday  school 
become  enthusiastic  and  wise  in  trying  to  win  these  same  young  men 
and  women  for  their  own  eternal  advantage  and  the  glory  and  exalta- 
tion of  Chi'ist  ? 

It  was  with  this  object  in  view  that  I  adapted  and  enlarged  the 
scope  of  my  class  so  as  to  include  young  women  as  well  as  young  men, 

I  have  learned  from  the  small  and  humble  beginning  of  this  move- 
ment "  never  to  despise  the  day  of  small  things." 

At  the  time  I  adapted  my  class  according  to  this  new  plan,  I  had 
about  twenty  young  men  in  regular  attendance.  I  then  asked  for  the 
old  registers  of  the  school  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  old  scholars, 
many  of  whom  by  this  time  had  become  married. 

After  explaining  oiir  new  method  to  these  old  scholars,  husbands  and 
wives,  friends  and  neighbours  came  and  joined  our  ranks,  and  in  many 
cases  bringing  then-  aged  parents  with  them.  In  foiu-  years,  our  mem- 
bership increased  from  11  to  850.  Our  method  of  conducting  the  class 
is  very  simple.  We  intersperse  the  service  by  singing  three  or  four 
hymns,  and  read  a  portion  of  Scriptm-e.  We  are  firm  behevers  in 
earnest  and  simple  prayer.  The  address  lasts  about  twenty  minutes, 
while  the  whole  service  is  not  more  than  one  hour  in  length. 

We  have  a  committee  elected  by  the  members  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
the  class  and  to  look  after  all  financial  matters.     We  have  two  secre- 
taries, one  the  attendance  and  the  other  the  financial,  and  we  have  also 
a  treasurer. 
Each  member  is  supposed  (but  not  compelled)  to  contribute  one 


Adult  ClnsKes.  233 

penny  every  Siinil;ij,  whii^h  is  taken  up  as  an  ofToring.  Tlie  class  has 
resolved  tliat  uiembers  making  forty-five  attendances  sliall  receive  a  book 
prize,  to  be  paid  for  out  of  tlio  money  whicli  is  thus  collected  every 
Sunday. 

Our  class  tries  to  carry  out  the  golden  law  of  sympathy  whicli  our 
Saviour  has  so  beautifully  set  forth  in  the  25th  chapter  of  Matthew,  to 
care  for  the  sick  and  feed  the  hungry. 

We  make  a  special  collection  for  the  needy  sick,  and  wo  also  hold  a 
"  bread  service  "  once  a  year  for  the  poor  of  the  class  and  district. 

Absentees  arc  visited  by  the  members,  while  I  visit  the  sick.  But  I 
ought  to  say  here  that  some  classes  have  a  committee  which  undertakes 
the  work  of  visiting  tlio  sick.  By  this  method  of  members  visiting 
absentees  wo  create  a  spirit  of  co-operation  and  a  feeling  of  sympathy 
towards  each  other  which  unites  tlie  members  and  holds  the  class 
together. 

Since  we  commenced  our  class  nine  others  have  been  started  in  West 
Bromwich  on  similar  lines,  and  are  in  every  case  doing  well. 

Wo  have  in  West  BromwicJi  about  5000  in  attendance  every  Sunday 
afternoon  to  hear  the  Word  of  God  explained  and  the  Saviour  set 
forth.  We  look  upon  this  as  a  great  cause  for  rejoicing  ;  but  our  joy  has 
been  increased  by  remembering  that  visitors  who  have  been  induced  by 
our  friend,  Mr.  Blackham,  to  come  and  see  our  work  in  operation,  have 
on  their  return  home  started  similar  classes  in  their  own  districts, 
some  for  men  and  others  for  women,  while  the  great  majority  of  the 
classes  have  been  for  men  and  women  jointly. 

The  adaptabiUty  of  this  system  of  Christian  service  in  meeting  the 
wants  of  working  men  everywhere  is  seen  in  the  rapid  extension  of 
these  classes  and  the  many  blessed  results  which  have  followed  their 
formation  in  the  various  towns. 

We  find  Wedneshuru,  with  five  classes,  containing  about  2500 
members. 

Wolverhampton  has  several  classes,  containing  about  2000  memboi's. 

Nottingham  has  its  classes,  with  a  membersliip  of  over  2000. 

Leicester  has  more  than  1000  members  in  attendance  every  Sunday 
afternoon. 

Walsall  has  seven  classes  containing  3000  members. 

Derby  has  five  or  six  classes,  containing  altogether  about  1400 
members. 

Many  other  classes  have  been  started  in  other  towns  on  these 
popular  lines,  and  it  is  estimated  that  we  have  now  an  aggregate 
attendance  of  27,000  members  every  Sunday  afternoon. 

I  should  like  to  mention  a  case  showing  how  the  work  is  extended 
by  the  members  of  our  classes  corresponding  with  theii'  friends  and 
relatives. 

I  had  in  my  class  a  young  man  who  has  a  brother  in  the  ministry  in 
London.  The  one  wrote  the  other,  and  told  him  of  our  good  work  and 
explained  our  plan  fully  to  him. 


234  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

The  rcsixlt  was  that  this  ministei*  was  led  to  start  what  lie  has  called 
"  The  Wintoi"  Afternoon  Society,"  to  be  held  on  Sunday  afternoons, 
when  they  get  an  average  attendance  of  600.  And  dui-ing  the  summer 
months  they  hold  out-door  services,  the  members  going  from  house  to 
house  visiting  the  people  and  inviting  them  to  these  out-door  services. 
The  minister  to  whom  I  have  referred  is  the  Rev.  W.  Knight  Chaplin 
of  the  "Poplar  and  Bromley  Tabernacle." 

Mr.  ChapLin  has  very  kindly  sent  me  this  message :  "  "Wo  believe 
there  are  grand  possibilities  for  increasmg  the  strength  of  the  church 
and  staying  the  advance  of  scepticism  in  the  institution  and  develop- 
ment of  Adult  Bible  classes,  for  such  is  our  experience." 

"We  find  this  new  method  of  Clu'istiau  service  has  been  carried  to  the 
Antipodes. 

An  enthusiastic  worker,  Mr.  J.  H.  Barker,  one  of  the  old  members 
of  the  Derby  class,  went  to  Now  Zealand,  and  has  been  the  means  of 
starting  a  class  there. 

In  the  Colonist  of  May  9,  18S8,  we  read,  "  The  meeting  has  been 
inaugiu-ated  by  Mr.  J.  Gr.  Harkness,  assisted  by  Messrs.  Barker  and 
Hodder.  The  Oddfellows'  Hall  at  Bichmond  has  been  engaged.  An 
organ  lias  been  provided,  and  a  very  good  start  made." 

In  speakmg  of  the  resvdts  of  our  work,  we  claim,  Fu'st,  to  have 
retained  himdreds  and  thousands  of  om*  elder  scholars,  who  would  in 
all  probabiHty  have  left  our  Sunday  schools  ere  this. 

We  have,  secondly,  regained  thousands  of  our  old  scholars  who  had 
left  us  for  years. 

And  we  have,  tliircUy,  reclaimed  many  who  for  years  did  not  attend 
a  place  of  worship. 

We  think  those  results  show  that  the  question  how  to  retain  our 
elder  scholars  has  at  last  been  solved.  And  we  also  think  that  we  are 
at  the  same  time  solving  another  problem,  viz.,  "  how  to  reach  the 
masses." 

We  have  seen  men  come  to  us  poorly  clad,  with  big  mufflers  round 
their  necks,  and  almost  afraid  to  sit  in  chapel.  In  about  a  fortnight 
the  muffler  has  given  place  to  a  neat  tie  and  a  clean  collar.  In  about 
another  month  the  old  garments  have  disappeared  altogether  to  make 
"way  for  a  new  suit. 

And  we  venture  to  think  that,  if  our  classes  become  the  means  of 
making  men  more  respectable,  they  not  only  confer  a  great  commercial 
benefit,  but  also  a  great  social  and  moral  good  upon  society.  When  we 
have  been  called  to  visit  our  scholars  in  their  affliction,  we  have  found 
again  and  again  that  the  simple  story  of  Redeeming  Love  has  found  a 
lodging-place  in  their  hearts,  and  very  many  have  passed  away  rejoicing 
in  tlie  saving  grace  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

Om'  classes  have  rescued  the  wild  and  wayward.  They  have  kept 
others  in  the  path  of  seeking  the  truth.  They  have  brought  light  and 
knowledge  to  the  aged  and  infii'm,  and  they  have  brightened  the  homes 
of  thousands  of  working  men. 


Adult  Classes.  235 

When  wo  sec  sons  !incl  tlanghtcrs,  fatliors  and  mothers,  grandfatlicrs 
and  grandniotliors,  ranging  froni  seventeen  to  eighty  years  of  age,  all 
sitting  to  hear  the  Word  of  God  explained,  we  feel  certain  that  this 
work  will  rceeive  the  blessing  of  tlio  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  witli  confidenco 
we  apply  the  words  of  the  Prophet  Tsaiah,  when  ho  is  speaking  of  the 
fruitfulness  and  sueccss  of  God's  Word,  "  It  shall  not  return  unto  Mo 
void,  but  it  shall  aocoraplish  that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper 
in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it." 

Our  Adult  Bible  Classes  have  demonstrated  the  fact  that  the  working 
men  of  this  country  are  not  opposed  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  And  we 
make  bold  to  say  that,  when  it  is  suggested  that  the  working  classes  of 
England  arc  opposed  to  the  teachings,  life,  and  work  of  Christ,  that 
such  a  statement  is  a  libel  upon  their  character. 

We  find  a  great  number  of  them  love  their  Bible,  and  can,  and  do, 
worship  Christ  as  their  Saviom*.  Working  men  like  a  religion  of 
sympathy,  which  is  the  essence  of  the  Gospel  of  our  blessed  Lord. 

This  work  is  destined  to  spread  and  extend  far  and  wide  until  it 
reaches  our  cousins  across  the  Atlantic.  Our  reason  for  making  this 
remark  is,  because  many  of  our  scholars  arc  constantly  going  to  the 
United  States  and  the  DomLnion  of  Canada.  And  wc  beheve  they  will 
take  with  them  some  of  the  new  methods  of  Clmstian  service  which 
they  have  seen  at  home. 

I  should  like  to  pay  a  warm  tribute  to  our  friend  Mr.  Blackham  for 
his  constant  efforts  in  starting  new  classes  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  His  efforts 'have  been  mai-vellously  successful.  It  was  the 
mission  of  Paul  to  plant,  and  for  ApoUos  to  water.  And  our  friend 
has  been  looking  after  the  planting  while  some  of  us  have  had  to  remain 
at  home  and  do  the  watering. 

The  work  of  our  Adult  Bible  Classes  should  not  be  looked  iipon  as 
antagonistic  to  the  ordmary  Sunday  school,  because  it  does,  as  we 
think,  supplement  and  complete  the  work  of  the  Sunday  school.  We 
know  there  are  many  schools  where  the  senior  scholars,  for  want 
of  better  and  more  commodious  buildings,  are  obliged  to  meet  in 
the  same  I'oom  with  the  children,  which  for  many  reasons  is  very 
objectionable. 

And,  further,  the  Sunday  schools,  with  then-  present  hmited  accommo- 
dation and  regulations  adapted  only  for  chilch-en,  could  not  do  the  work 
wliich  is  now  being  done  in  our  afternoon  classes. 

Although  our  adult  classes  are  usually  held  in  large  separate  build- 
ings, I  look  upon  them  as  part  of  the  same  system  and  completing  the 
work  of  the  Sunday  school.  The  Sunday  school  takes  the  cluld  when 
it  is  about  six  years  old,  and  retains  it  till  it  has  grown  up  to  about 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years  of  age. 

It  is  at  this  age  om*  adult  classes  step  in  and  say.  Now  hand  over  to 
us  your  senior  scholars  of  both  sexes,  and  we  will  provide  for  them  in 
every  possible  way. 

The  teacher  of  the  Sunday  school  takes  his  lessons  from  the  Word  of 


236  Management  of  Sunday  Schools.  "    "    ' 

Grocl,  while  tho  addresses  of  tlio  speakers  of  oui-  adult  classes  are  also 
based  upon  the  Scriptures. 

In  a  word,  the  Sunday  schools  have  sown  much  seed,  and  I  thint  all 
present  will  admit  that  our  afternoon  classes  will  reap  in  a  large 
measure  the  results  of  the  labours  of  godly  men  and  women  of  former 
years. 

In  other  words,  tho  Sunday  school  lays  the  foundation  of  a  system 
of  Bible  teacliing  which  is  continued  and  carried  on  by  our  adulfc 
classes  until  the  top  stone  is  reached  by  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 

I  am  well  aware  that  there  are  some  few  who  object  to  our  work 
because  of  the  prize  system  in  connection  with  our  classes.  But  I  can 
assm-e  you  that  the  prizes  are  made  the  means  of  securing  regidar  and 
punctual  attendance.  And  further,  if  the  members  of  our  classes  con- 
tribute the  money  themselves,  they  have  a  right  to  give  prizes  to  each 
other  as  a  reward  for  punctual  attendance  if  they  so  determine. 

In  every  department  of  life  we  find  inducement  held  out  in  the  shape 
of  rewards  and  prizes.  If  a  student  in  one  of  our  colleges  passes  his 
examination  the  best,  he  is  presented  with  a  certificate  of  merit,  and 
often  obtains  a  book,  and  sometimes  a  money  prize.  We  have  known 
money  prizes  given  for  the  best  essays  on  "  Foreign  Missions,"  "  Tho 
Papacy,"  "  Temperance,"  and  even  on  "  Free  Trade." 

And  do  we  not  read  in  the  Scriptures  that  Moses  had  "  respect  unto 
the  recompense  of  reward,"  and  to  "  so  run  that  we  might  obtain"  the 
crown  of  everlasting  life  ? 

It   should  not  be  forgotten  that  our  classes,  by  the  prize  system, 

become  the  means  of  widely  circulating  a  sound  and  healthy  litcratm-e. 

With  our  present  number  of  classes  we  find  that  at  least  20,000 

persons  wiU  be  supplied  once  a  year  with  books  oi  a  good  moral 

character  written  by  some  of  the  best  authors. 

And  quite  as  many  more  will  read  these  books,  for  they  wUl  be  read 
by  other  members  of  the  families,  and  lent  to  their  companions  and 
neighboiu-s,  so  that  our  classes  will  become  one  grand  circulating 
library  containing  over  30,000  readers. 

Corporations  will  even  tas  themselves  to  increase  the  number  oi 
readers,  and  to  supply  the  people  with  knowledge  by  adopting  the 
"  Free  Libraries  Act."  But  here  we  have  a  system  in  connection  with 
our  classes  wliich  supplies  knowledge  to  many  thousands  of  people 
without  being  a  tax  to  any  one. 

When  I  mention  the  titles  of  the  books  we  distribute  it  will  be  seen 
what  kinds  of  literature  we  are  cu-culating :  '  The  life  of  Dr.  Living- 
stone,' 'Famous  Men  and  Famous  Deeds,'  'Pictorial  Cabinet  of 
Wonders,'  'Life  of  Gordon,'  and  'The  EngHsh  in  Egypt,'  'The 
Quiver,'  '  Sunday  at  Home,'  '  Good  Words,'  the  '  Fu-e-side,'  and,  the 
best  of  all,  the  '  Holy  Bible.'  If  om-  class  prize  system  puts  into  the 
hands  of  om*  members  such  valuable  books  it  will  become  the  means  of 
diffusing  useful  and  saving  knowledge.  And,  further,  this  prize  system 
must  confer  a  commercial  advantage  upon  the  comm\mity  at  large. 


Adult  Classes.  231 

It  is  estimated  that  about  £5000  will  bo  spent  aiinuallj'  in  our  pmo 
disti-ibutions,  which,  of  course,  means  an  increase  in  tlie  work  of  the 
printers,  the  business  of  the  bookseller,  and  bringing  into  circulation  a 
large  amount  of  money  amongst  other  tradespeople. 

I  have  been  asked  the  two  following  important  questions  : — 

1.  Do  your  classes  supply-  teachers  to  the  ordinary  Sunday  schools? 

2.  And  do  the  members  of  your  classes  generally  attend  the  ordinary 
services  of  the  church  or  chapel? 

I  tliink  you  will  all  agree  with  me  in  saying  that  we  should  not  valuo 
these  classes  for  what  we  can  get  out  of  them.  And  neither  should  we 
form  these  classes  chiefly  for  getting  denominational  advantages.  I 
take  it  our  first  and  chief  object  shoidd  be  how  much  good  we  can  do 
to  om*  fellow-meu  notwithstanding  tliis. 

I  am  able  to  state  that  from  our  own  class  there  has  gone  forth  a 
steady  stream  of  teachers  for  years  past.  We  keep  a  record,  and  we 
find  that  many  of  our  scholars  have  become  teachers  in  the  various 
Sunday  schools  of  the  town.  And  we  also  think  that,  but  for  the  re- 
tainuig  power  and  influence  of  our  classes,  that  these  might  have  been 
lost  to  the  Christian  church.  "VYe  find  many  of  our  scholars  who  did 
not  formerly  attend  Sunday-evening  services  do  so  now.  But  there  are 
others  who  at  present  have  not  taken  to  attending  Simday-evening 
services,  and  in  their  case  we  say  it  is  far  better  for  us  to  gather  them 
into  our  classes,  where  they  will  hear  words  whereby  they  may  be  saved, 
than  not  to  gather  them  in  at  all. 

The  possibilities  of  these  classes  for  moral  and  spiritual  usefulness 
are  very  great — 

1.  You  can  use  them  for  carrying  on  temperance  meetings. 

2.  To  assist  in  town  and  city  missions. 

3.  And  as  co-workers  with  you  in  the  ordinaiy  services. 

I  know  a  case  in  West  Bromwich,  when  the  anniversary  of  the  Sunday 
school  comes  round,  the  Adult  Bible  Class  is  requested  to  provide  for 
the  afternoon  service  and  the  collection.  And  it  is  a  fact  that  the 
afternoon  collection  is  always  the  largest. 

I  feel  I  might  have  said  much  more  about  the  great  work  of  our 
classes,  but  time  forbids.  But  one  thing  I  feel  I  must  say  before  I 
sit  down. 

If  any  of  you  should  start  a  class  of  the  same  kind,  be  sure  and  not 
make  the  mistake  of  selecting  the  wrong  man  to  be  its  president. 

Any  man  will  not  do. 

The  president  need  not  give  the  address  every  Sunday  ;  he  can  get  a 
plan  of  speakers  to  assist  liim. 

But  the  president  must  be  a  man  of  eai-nest  spiiitual  life. 

He  must  be  a  man  that  knows  his  Bible. 

He  must  have  an  abiding  faith  in  the  Gospel  of  Clirist  as  being 
adapted  to  meet  the  wants  of  all  men. 

He  must  be  also  a  man  who  is  in  sympathy  and  touch  with  the 
working  men. 


233  M'ana(f&ment  of  Sunday  Schools. 

In  a  word,  ho  must  bo  a  man  of  one  idea — Christ  for  his  class,  and 
his  class  for  Cln-ist, 

Mr.  Melloes  :  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  say  anything  more  than  I 
said  in  the  pa]Der  which  I  have  written,  but  I  will  say,  in  connection 
with  that  movement,  that  at  Nottingham  it  is  a  distinctly  religious 
movement,  and  that  there  is  no  attempt  at  amusement.  My  daughter 
I^resides  over  500  women,  and  I  preside  over  2000  men,  and  if  any  ot 
you  desire  to  have  any  information  as  to  the  way  we  carry  it  out,  if 
you  write  to  me  I  should  be  glad  to  give  it. 

Mr.  Blackham  {West  Broimvich)  :  All  I  have  to  say  is  our  experience 
of  this  work  shows  us  that  while  it  is  difficult  to  get  a  class  and  hold  a 
class  long  of  thu-ty  or  forty,  at  least,  it  is  a  very  easy  thing  to  get  a  class 
of  1001.     If  you  doubt  it,  go  and  try  it. 

Dr.  HalIi  :  Just  before  I  left  America  I  met  one  of  the  beat  Christian 
workers  in  the  Chm'ch  I  serve,  and  while  saying  good'bye  she  said : 
"  Do  not  forget  to  tell  the  Convention  about  the  Chinese — not  the 
Chinese  in  China,  but  the  Chinese  who  are  living  in  our  American 
cities."  Mr.  President,  no  Irishman  can  afford  to  disregard  the  com- 
mand he  gets  from  a  Clmstian  lady,  so  I  venture  to  take  one  minute  to 
mention  to  the  Convention  what  is  being  done  in  that  dii-ection  In 
every  one  of  our  great  cities  we  have  a  large  number,  I  can  truly  say,  of 
wealthy,  respected,  and  self-supporting  Chinese  men.  I  think  eveij  lead- 
ing denommation  of  these  cities  has  opened  a  Bible  class  and  Scripture 
class  for  the  benefit  of  these  people.  In  some  instances  these  classes 
will  number  twenty,  thu-ty,  and  forty  members.  They  do  not  know  our 
tongue  in  the  beginning,  and  usually  one  teacher  is  given  to  each  pupil, 
and  I  am  bound  to  say  I  have  known  Christian  men  seventy  years  of 
age  who  have  taken  a  pupil  Sabbath  night  after  Sabbath  night  -with  the 
greatest  joy  and  satisfaction.  Not  a  few  have  been  received  into  mem- 
bership of  the  church,  and  there  is  one  thing  particularly  noticeable. 
In  some  instances,  when  we  are  dealing  with  om'  own  people  and  bring- 
ing the  means  of  grace  to  them,  they  are  tempted  to  look  a  Httle  to  the 
advantages  they  get  from  coming  to  these  schools.  On  the  other  hand, 
with  the  Chmese  the  difficulty  is  to  keep  them  from  overloading  the 
teachers  with  gifts  and  tokens  of  approval,  and  gratitude,  and  sympathy. 
London  is  hearmg  every  day  now  of  pupils  being  taken  for  picnics. 
These  Chinese  pupils  are  anxious  to  organize  picnics  for  their  teachers 
to  show  how  grateful  they  are  for  the  service  rendered  them.  I  do  not 
know  whether  in  EngUsh  cities  you  have  any  Chinese ;  but,  if  you  have, 
notlung  is  easier  than  to  approach  them,  and  to  teach  the  heathen 
amongst  lis  the  practical  power  of  om"  Christian  system  and  the  grace 
that  is  in  Jesus  Christ. 


[In  consequence  of  the  great  length  of  the  afternoon  programme,  the 
executive  committee  decided  that  Councillor  Meilobs'  paper  should 
be  read  at  the  morning  session ;  but,  that  gentleman  not  being  present, 
his  paper  was  read  by  the  Secretary  (Mr.  E.  Towees)  as  follows : — ] 


I'leasaat  Sunday  Aflo^ioons.  283 

1'L1:ASAi\T  SUiNDAY  Al'TKUNUU^'y. 
By  Councillor  Mklloks  {Noltinyluim). 

At  the  Albert  Uiill,  Nuttingliuiii,  usually  2000  men  every  Sunday 
assemble  to  spend  a  pleasant  Sunday  afternoon.  On  eertain  days  the 
number  in  attendanee  may  not  exceed  1700 ;  on  other  days  it  would 
reach  to  500  or  GOO  more.  They  are  men,  not  boys.  Their  ages  range 
from  18  to  84.  They  are  not  a  niixed  audience,  except  that  once  a 
month  some  of  them  bring  their  wives.  Those  men  would  not  miss  the 
meeting  if  they  coidd  help  it  on  any  accoimt.  The  most  of  them  have 
to  walk  one,  two,  or  more  miles.  If  tlie  rain  pom-s  down,  if  the  snow 
falls,  and  the  wind  blows,  or  if,  on  the  other  hand,  the  weather  is 
hot  and  sultry,  you  will  find  them  in  their  places. 

What  is  it  that  draws  them  ?  They  are  not  paid  to  attend  ;  they 
are  not  bribed  into  goodness.  They  give  more  than  they  get  in  the 
financial  sense.  With  a  monthly  collection  they  meet  the  expenses. 
They  are  all  working  men  ;  some  are  educated,  some  otherwise.  They 
are  of  every  variety  of  trade ;  some  appear  comfortably  off,  while  the 
dress  of  others  indicates  poverty ;  but  there  they  all  assemble  like  a 
band  of  brothers.  Eveiy  man  has  his  Sankey  hymn-book  in  his  hand, 
for  which  he  has  paid  "id.     What  arc  they  assembled  for  ? 

Let  us  enter  the  hall.  It  looks  like  a  great  hive  of  bees — all  busi- 
ness and  stir.  Here  are  men  waylaying  the  others  entering,  greeting 
them.  They  are  called  "welcomers."  Their  instructions  are  to  shake 
hands  with  everybody  aU  round,  to  find  them  places,  and  to  make 
them  feel  that  they  are  at  home.  All  the  seats  ai-e  free.  What  are  those 
men  doing  at  the  tables?  They  are  registering  the  attendance  of  those 
who  desu-e  to  subscribe  for  books.  It  is  optional  whether  a  man  has 
his  attendance  registered  or  not.  If  he  so  desfres,  he  has  a  member's 
ticket  printed  with  fifty-two  spaces  for  the  year.  He  casts  his  card  on 
the  table,  together  with  a  penny.  His  card  is  stamped  with  a  red  cross 
in  the  space  for  the  date  ;  say,  "  584  "  is  written  by  another  marker  in 
a  book,  which  during  the  week  is  posted,  showing  the  attendance  and 
the  penny  paid.  There  are  twenty  of  sucli  markers,  some  of  them 
sitting  near  each  of  the  doors.  At  that  other  table  men  are  paying 
Z^d.  a  week  into  a  sick  provident  fund,  which  tlu-ee  or  four  men  are 
managing.  Here  are  three  men  receiving  deposits  into  a  penny  bank. 
There  is  a  table  at  wliich  new  members  arc  joining.  Here  are  half  a 
dozen  referees  being  appealed  to  to  allow  last  Sunday's  attendance,  not- 
withstanding absence.  Tliis  man  is  telling  one  referee  that  he  was  ill, 
or  that  he  had  met  with  an  accident,  or  that  he  was  compelled  to  work 
his  engine,  and  the  referee  has  to  put  liis  initials  on  the  card.  There  is 
a  httle  bookstall,  and  half  a  dozen  persons  are  selling  good  penny  books ; 
from  300  to  500  booklets  will  be  sold  at  the  con:meucement  or  at  the 
close  of  the  meetuig. 


240  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

The  clock  strikes  lialf-pasfc  two.  The  organ  has  been  playmg  sorao 
nimutes.  There  are  a  number  of  men  in  j'ront  of  the  organ  forming  the 
choir.  "  Hymn  210,"  calls  out  the  President,  and  uprises  that  forest 
of  men's  heads,  and,  oh,  what  a  volume  of  sound  rises!  Every  man  is 
siuging,  "  It  is  well,  it  is  well,  with  my  soul." 

The  hymn  is  finished.  "  Mr.  Smith  will  read  a  portion  of  Scripture." 
About  ten  or  twelve  verses  are  read,  usually  the  International  Lesson. 
"Hymn  317."  That  hymn  is  evidently  a  favom-ite.  How  heartily  and 
earnestly  they  join  in  that  chorus,  "  He  arose !  He  arose !  Hallelujah, 
Christ  ai'ose !  "  "  Mr.  Jones  will  lead  us  in  prayer."  Mr.  Jones  is  a 
working  man  ;  they  all  know  him.  He  poui-s  out  his  petition  to  God 
from  the  fulness  of  his  soid,  and  many  hearty  "  Amens  "  and  responses 
accompany  the  petitions.  "  Miss  Jenkins  wiU  sing  a  solo,"  and  forth- 
with Miss  Jenkins  sings  "The  Better  Land,"  which,  being  well  done, 
is  heartily  cheered.  "  Mr.  Wilson  will  give  an  address,"  and  for  ten 
minutes  Mr.  Wilson  is  givmg  an  earnest,  faitliful,  and  telUng  Gospel 
address.  A  duette  or  quartette  foUows.  All  the  pieces  sung  are  sacred. 
A  second  Gospel  address  of  ten  minutes  follows  ;  a  third  solo  or  chorus; 
the  announcements  ;  a  closrug  hymn,  and  the  benediction.  The  whole 
occupies  a  few  minutes  over  the  lionr,  and  the  men  disperse ;  but 
evidently  the  workers  have  a  good  deal  to  do,  for  six  or  eiglit  groups  of 
men  are  squaring  their  accounts  or  making  then-  arrangements  for  the 
week- night  meetings.  This  has  gone  on  Svmday  by  Sunday  without 
intermission  since  October  1887,  and  the  interest  has  not  diminished. 
What  is  it  di'aws  them  together  ? 

There  is  no  attempt  at  amusement  or  of  entertainment.  Evei-y 
meeting  is  a  religious  meeting,  nearly  every  address  is  a  Gospel  address  ; 
sometimes  temperance,  or  thrift,  or  good  habits,  will  form  the  theme, 
never  politics. 

Fon  ■WHAT  HAVE  THESE  MEN  BEEN  DEAT^? — First,  by  an  eaJ-nest 
religious  sei-vice  ;  but,  beyond  this,  and  partly  hi/  means  of  various 
henevolenf  agencies.  There  are  1300  men  who  pay  a  penny  a  week 
towards  having  a  look  at  the  end  of  the  quarter.  Those  who  desire  to 
go  in  without  having  their  attendance  marked  do  so  without  let  or 
hmdrance.  The  books  obtained  and  distributed  are  of  a  class  adapted 
to  the  people.  The  lives  of  Bright,  Garfield,  Lincoln,  Grant,  or  Living- 
stone, and  of  other  famous  men,  have  been  particvdarly  run  on,  while 
books  of  travels,  of  poetry,  religious  books,  and  certain  magazines, 
"  Songs  and  Solos  "  with  music.  Bibles,  &c.,  have  been  purchased.  The 
efiect  of  the  circulation  of  good  books  in  the  houses  of  the  working 
classes  has  a  decidedly  beneficial  influence,  and  many  a  man  has  bought 
other  books  to  match. 

Seated  by  the  side  of  the  markers  are  the  committee-men,  receiving 
money  into  A  penny  savings  bajjk,  and  the  deposits  will  range  between 
£3  to  £10  per  week.  A  week's  notice  is  required  for  a  withdrawal  of 
more  than  £1.     The  moneys  reoeired  are  the  next  day  paid  into  the 


PloaniDit  Siuithii/  Aflniiouus.  1W 

public  saviugs  bank,  to  an  account  in  tbo  uauios  ol"  the  treasurers,  and 
when  a  man's  deposit  amonnts  to  £5  the  sum  is  transferred  to  an 
account  at  the  public  bank  in  his  own  name. 

By  the  side  of  the  bank  committee  is  tiik  sick  providknt  com- 
mittee, wlio  receive  from  each  member,  who  thinks  well  to  join,  2J(?. 
per  week,  or,  if  ho  wishes  to  have  the  services  of  a  doctor,  3Jrf.  In 
case  of  sickness  the  sick  member  has  6*.  per  week  for  three  months, 
and  3s.  per  week  for  three  months  longer  ;  £3  is  paid  in  case  of  death. 
At  the  end  of  the  year  the  funds  are  divided  among  Ihe  members,  leaving 
only  \s.  each  as  a  nest  egg.     Last  j'car  eacli  member  received  back  6*. 

A  considerable  nuu^ber  of  essaijs  have  been  written  by  members  upon 
various  subjects,  the  conditions  being  that  the  essays  should  be  written 
on  four  pages  of  foolscap,  one  side  only,  and  not  take  more  than  seven 
miiuites  to  read.  Some  of  these  papers  woidd  have  done  credit  to  the 
members  of  a  college,  and  two  of  them  on  'Temperance'  and  'Cha- 
racter '  have  been  priiited  and  circulated.  The  efforts  in  poetry  have 
not  been  so  successful,  although  encom-aging,  and  a  very  good  hymn 
was  written  and  rend  flic  other  day  by  an  old  member,  aged  eighty- 
two. 

There  are  thirty  visitors,  whose  work  it  is  to  look  after  absentees,  and 
the  sick,  and,  as  far  as  funds  will  allow,  the  needy,  and  to  relievo  them, 
for  wliich  purpose 

A  BENEVOLENT  puND  was  formed,  and  a  quarterly  collection  is  taken. 
One  visitor  spent  lus  Easter  holiday  in  visiting  seventy  members  in  his 
district,  takuig  between  two  and  three  days  over  it. 

Connected  with  the  Sunday  work  are  a  number  of  week-night 
classes.  Ax  elementaby  singing  class  provides  for  beginners  in  the 
musical  direction,  while  two  choirs  help  forward  the  more  advanced. 

A  BRASS  BAND  has  forty  members,  v\ho  have  purchased  their  instru- 
ments by  payment  of  Is.  per  week,  and  who  render  assistance  to  the 
class  once  a  quarter  on  Sundays,  and  at  week-day  demonstrations. 

The  evangelistic  choir  sing  the  Gospel  ui  the  mnrkct-plaee,  and 
a  number  of  the  members  join  in  out-door  preaching. 

A  drawing  class,  a  class  for  teaching  elementary  French,  and  a 
shorthand  class  help  forward  the  work  of  education. 
The  amusements  of  the  members  find  expression  in 

A  cricket  club,  while,  Nottingham  being  a  fishing  district,  one 
hundred  and  ten  members  have  joined  a  risniNO  club,  by  the  tickets  of 
which  they  are  enabled  to  ti-avel  to  thirty  railway  stations  at  return 
fare  of  one  and  a  quarter. 

Ambulance  classes  have  been  formed,  and  the  members  have  passed 
very  satisfactory  examinations.  A  temperance  society  has  been  joined 
by  a  number  of  men  to  whom  di'ink  was  a  snare. 

B 


242  Management  of  Sunday  Scltools. 

Social  purity  has  had  attention,  and  members  liave  been  encouraged 
to  join  the  White  Cross  Army. 

A  SLOWER  SHOW  Avas  held  last  summer,  and  two  flower  services  con- 
nected with  benevolent  agencies.  Processions  have  been  arranged  to 
the  Castle  Museum  for  its  pictures ;  to  the  arboretum  for  its  flowers  ; 
to  St.  Mary's  Chiu-ch  to  hear  Rev.  W.  Hay  Aitkm  on  social  pmity  ;  to 
the  Senton  Orphanage,  and  elsewhere. 

GEOLOaiCAL  TOTTES  On  Satiu'day  afternoons  have  been  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Shipman,  who  has  described  the  geological  formation  of  the 
district ;  wliile  Sunday  morning  walks  have  been  rendered  helpful  to 
forty  or  fifty  men  to  whom  Mr.  Mann  has  given  Natural  Sister^  talks 
in  the  arboretmn,  with  microscopical  and  magnifymg-glass  aids. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE  reports  the  doings  of  the  class,  about  500 
copies  of  which  are  sold,  and  1500  given  away. 

Excursions  and  tea  parties  or  concerts  arc  arranged  at  each  holiday 
occasion,  so  as  to  be  helpful  to  those  members  who  desii-e  pleasm^e,  as 
well  as  for  those  who  might  otherwise  fall  into  temptatioia. 

It  may  be  desii'able  to  state  here  that  we  have  a  separate  Women's 
MEETING  conducted  by  women.  The  number  of  members,  over  500, 
could  be  greatly  increased  if  we  had  room. 


Ey    WHAT    MEANS   HAVE    THE    MEN   BEEN   WON? 

1.  The  effort  orir/inated  from  among  themselves.  The  United  Gospel 
Mission  is  an  evangeUstic  agency,  designed  to  aid  and  supplement  the 
work  of  the  churches,  and  to  carry  the  Gospel  into  the  hearts  and  homes 
of  those  who  are  not  usually  reached.  It  includes  as  members  many 
persons  who  are  connected  with  various  cluu-ches.  These  persons  rent 
the  largest  haU  in  the  town  for  evangelistic  purposes.  A  part  of  the 
work  cai'ried  on  was  a  Bible  class  of  thirty  to  forty  men.  The  members 
of  that  Bible  class  detei-mined,  God  helping  them,  they  would  largely 
increase  then*  numbers.  They  sent  a  deputation  over  to  Derby  to  see 
Mr.  Hodder's  class.  They  sought  for  additional  members,  and  so  set 
the  class  agoing.  From  the  beginning  each  member  has  felt  "  it  is  his 
own  class." 

2.  It  has  been  customary  on  the  last  Simday  in  each  month  to  issue 
special  invitations  to  the  men  engaged  in  any  particular  ti*ade,  and,  as 
far  as  practicable,  to  secure  that  the  persons  who  spoke,  read,  pro.yed, 
or  sang,  should  be  men  engaged  in  that  particiUar  trade.  Thus,  corpo- 
ration servants,  policemen,  railway  men,  butchers  and  bakers,  lace- 
makers,  hosiers,  &c.,  have  been  invited  by  handbill  and  personal  solici- 
tation. 

3.  The  vM\:o}r.s  at  the  doors  lias  an  efiect  upon  many  men.     It  is  u*:' 


Pli'((stiiil  Siniihdj  Afti'vnoovfi.  243 

iinconimoii  thin-,'  to  liour  tlicm  say,  "If  you  gn  to  r^uch-aiul-sucli  a 
church  or  cliajicl,  no  one  takes  any  notice  of  you,  hut  here  you  always 
get  a  welcome." 

4.  A  public  hnll  is  found  to  he  an  advantage,  uliere  the  scats  arc 
chaii'6,  nncl  everi/  seat  is  free  and  equal.  Working  men,  rightly  or 
wrongly,  dislike  the  eacredness  of  buildings,  (he  rcseiTation  of  scats, 
the  exclusivencss  of  pews,  and  the  peculiarities  of  sects. 

5.  The  social  arrmir/empnls  for  the  encouragement  of  thrift,  for  the 
obtaining  of  books,  for  educational  purposes,  for  sports  and  pastimes 
undoubtedly  draw  numbers  of  men  who  would  not  be  otherwise  at  tractcd. 
A  procession  always  brings  new  members. 

6.  The  varietij  of  talent  employed  is  an  clement  of  success.  Each 
week  diil'erent  men  read,  pray,  speak,  or  sing.  In  the  singing  ladies 
are  always  appreciated. 

7.  The  Z»?"eyi7_y  of  the  service  and  of  each  part  of  it  is  approved: 
prayers  not  exceeding  five  minutes,  adch'csses  of  ten  minutes,  stand  in 
marked  contrast  with  the  long  prayers  and  sermons  which  men  dislike. 
The  newspaper  and  magazines  have  accustomed  men  to  short  bits. 
They  dislike  in  a  meeting,  what  they  wiil  not  read  in  print. 

9.  An  earnest  Gospel  is  approved  ;  men  care  notliing  for  speeches  on 
cluu'ch  government,  theological  essays,  intellectual  doubts,  and  dis- 
putes ;  but  they  do  care  for  and  appreciate  the  truth  as  to  God's 
infinite  love,  as  to  Christ's  example  and  sacrifice,  as  to  the  provision 
God  has  made  in  the  Gospel  for  making  bad  men  good,  and  miserable 
men  happy. 

The  truth  as  illustrated  by  their  every-day  cii'cnmstances,  and  their 
temptations,  then-  sins,  and  their  sorrows,  told  from  loving  hearts,  in 
eimple  earnest  language,  this  they  will  appreciate  and  respond  to. 

10.  It  has  been  foiuid  of  great  advantage  to  make  an  opening  for  any 
man  who  was  willing  to  render  sei-vice  as  a  worker ;  hence  about  every 
tenth  man  is  in  oflice.  Every  department  has  its  committee  for  carry- 
ing out  the  details  of  the  work.  This  helps  to  develop  the  energies  of 
the  men  in  the  dii-ection  to  which  they  are  inclined,  while  it  promotes 
the  efficiency  of  the  workers,  and  secm-es  their  interests.  It  is  a  huge 
blunder  in  connection  with  Clmstian  churches  when  the  passport  to 
office  is  a  piu-se,  a  large  house,  a  carriage,  or  other  badge  of  class  dis- 
tinction. 

11.  While  various  means  have  drawn  the  men,  one  definite  ptirpose 
has  held  them  ;  a  crowd  may  be  di'a\^Ti  by  a  fool,  but,  the  folly  ex- 
pended, the  crowd  will  disperse.  In  this  eflbrt,  the  one  definite  aim, 
to  which  all  others  have  been  subsidiary,  has  been  the  beginning  and 
development  of  the  life  of  God  in  the  souls  of  the  men.  When  con- 
version  has  been  secm-ed,  rightly  directed,  all  other  good  will  follow,  for 
\vith  the  "  new  bu-th "  and  proper  guidance,  cleanliness  and  thi-ift, 
better  clothes,  happy  homes,  kindness  to  women  and  cliildi-eu,  industry 
and  conscientiousness  in  the  discharge  of  every-day  duties,  amiability 
and  cheerfi.dness,  with  a  desii-e  to  promote  the  good  of  others,  th-'?" 


211  Manatjciiienl  of  Sttndai/  Scliuuls. 

nre  sure  evidences  that  the  life  of  God  has  begun,  for  what  is  the  Ufe  of 
God  but  the  hfe  of  faith,  of  goodness,  of  truth,  of  righteousness  ? 

Has  this  been  secured  ? 

You  sec  that  man  selhng  books.  Tor  thirty-nine  years  he  lived  a 
life  of  open  sin  and  wickedness.  By  the  grace  of  God  he  has  been 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  Christ  as  his  Savioxir,  and  within  three 
montlis  he  has  brought  eight  other  men  to  Christ. 

There's  another  man  who  had  not  a  suitable  suit  of  clothes  to  attend 
an  ordinary  place  of  worship.  Attending  one  of  the  meetings  he  was 
convicted  of  the  sin,  and  the  same  night  accepted  Christ  as  his  Saviour. 
A  situation  was  obtained  for  him,  and  the  first  week  he  refunded  the 
five  shiUiugs  that  had  been  advanced  for  him. 

Two  men  sitting  together  attended  one  of  the  afternoon  meetings, 
heard  the  Gospel  again  in  the  evening,  and  were  so  convicted  of  sin 
that  they  went  near  midnight  and  awakened  one  of  the  workers  to 
point  them  to  Ckrist. 

That  man  sitting  there  was  a  cock-fighter,  and  many  a  fight  did  he 
have  on  a  Sunday  in  his  back  yard,  but  the  cockerils  are  all  dead  now. 
That  other  man's  clothes  were  so  offensive,  that  yon  could  hardly  bear 
to  sit  by  liis  side,  but  both  his  skin  and  his  clothes  are  converted  now. 
Yonder  is  a  man  fond  of  fisliing,  and  tlu-ough  the  fishing  clubs  at 
public-houses  had  become  a  confirmed  drunkard ;  he  thanks  God  for 
our  fishing  club,  for  he  can  indulge  in  his  favourite  sport  without 
temptation. 

That  man  is  a  pigeon  flyer,  and  stiU  he  keeps  at  it ;  but  his  two 
maxims  are  now  :  "  No  gambling,  no  Sunday  work."  Listen  to  that 
other  man's  tale  :  "  I  made  my  wife  glad  last  week,  I  bought  her  a  new 
dresser,  and  a  week  before  that  I  bought  four  ciiairs,  and  the  week 
before  I  fetched  the  sheets  and  blankets  out  of  pawn."  Look  at  that 
other  man,  he  has  the  tens  of  pounds  in  the  bank,  which  he  would  not 
have  had  if  the  bank  had  not  come  to  his  door.  He  Sciys  he  never 
saved  sixpence  before. 

Are  these  isolated  cases  ? 

Thank  God,  no,  they  are  only  samples  of  a  large  number.  It  must 
not  be  supposed  that  aU  the  men  are  of  this  class.  There  are  lumdreds 
of  men  who  are  more  or  less  connected  with  the  chiu-ches,  and  who 
attend  only  for  the  afternoon's  good. 

There  is  our  difficuUij,  and  with  this  I  conclude.  It  seems  almost 
impossible  to  secure  the  heai-ty  co-operation  of  the  chiu'ches  in  con- 
nection Avith  this  kind  of  work.  It  has  been  a  grief  to  us  that  one 
man  in  ten  has  come  from  Sunday  schools  or  other  iiseful  spheres, 
thereby  occasioning  irritation  among  Clu-istian  workers,  wlio  were 
faithfully  discharging  their  duties.  Tiiis  has  been  discouraged,  but  it 
could  not  be  helped.  With  a  view  to  discourage  this,  the  rule  is  not 
to  admit  members  under  eighteen  years  of  age  ;  but  in  some  cases  this 
rule  has  liad  to  be  relaxed.  When  men  have  left  other  schools  or 
classes  it  has  generally  been  where  the  work  has  been  carried  on  in  a 


TLome  Heading  Circles.  245 

Careless  and  apathetic  luanncr.  "VVlieii  will  the  church  realize  that  the 
masses  are  to  bo  laid  hold  of  for  Christ,  if  uot  for  churches,  and  that 
the  present  indillerence  among  Christian  workers,  the  class  distinctions, 
the  pew  rent  exclusiveness,  the  sectarian  bitterness,  the  set  forms  of 
service,  and  other  shuilar  impediments  are  rightly  or  wrongl3',  througli 
prejudice  or  otherwise,  the  means  that  occasion  the  alienation  of  the 
masses  from  the  Gospel.  The  people  may  bo  won,  and  all  that  is 
required  is  sanctified  common  sense,  and  warm-hearted  energy  and 
adaptation. 

The  PiiESlDKNT  suggested  that  the  paper  should  be  printed  in  a 
cheap  form  for  circulatiou. 

Mr.  Cairns  :  Every  word  in  the  paper  is  true,  and  tlic  wort  is 
going  on  as  it  is  pictured  there, 

HOME    READING    CIRCLES. 

By  Rev.  Dr.  Paton  {Noitinr/ham). 
(This  paper  was  taken  as  read.) 

I  call  attention  briefly  to  a  grave  responsibihty  of  the  eluu-clij 
especially  of  that  department  or  branch  of  the  cluu'ch  which  has  the 
care  of  the  young — which  imdertakes,  in  behalf  of  the  chui'ch  and  with 
its  sanction,  tlieir  protection  amid  the  perils  of  opening  life,  and  their 
training  for  its  duties. 

Looking  at  the  many  millions  of  cliikh'eu  who  have  passed  through 
our  schools,  we  may  well  conceive  that  our  Lord  asks  us,  m  solemn 
concern  and  even  in  rebuke,  What  has  become  of  the  cliildreu 
whom  you  had,  dm-iug  their  youngest,  tenderest,  and  most  receptive 
years,  to  train  for  Me  ?  Why  are  they  in  such  vast  multitudes  lost  to 
Me  and  to  themselves  ?  We  know,  at  any  rate,  tvheii  it  is  they 
are  so  lost ;  and  this  may  help  us  to  answer  the  question  Why  are  they 
lost  ?  It  is  dui'ing  those  years  in  which,  their  school  days  ended — they 
lay  liold  of  the  business  of  their  life,  whatever  it  may  be ;  begin  to 
liandle  the  implements  by  which  then'  daily  bread  is  gained;  catch 
first  foot-hold  on  independence ;  feel  the  new  delight  of  moral 
freedom :  face  with  curious  gaze  the  wonders  of  the  world  opening 
before  them  ;  mix.  eagerly  in  the  wider  associations  and  interests  of  the 
workshop,  and  of  the  youth  in  their  locality  ;  and  fii-st  meet  the  varied 
temptations  that  allm'e  then-  natm-e — ripening  rapidly  in  new  activities, 
and  awakening  to  new  sensations  of  pleasm'e.  These  are  the  years  of 
tremendous  peril  and  of  decisive  trial,  the  testing  and  determining 
years  of  life,  when  character  and  destiny  are  almost  irrevocably  sealed. 
These  are  the  years,  then,  as  it  seems  to  me,  in  which,  with  wisdom 
fired  by  truest  sympathy  and  illumined  by  experience,  and  with  the 
strain  of  continuous  effort,  the  cluu'ch  shoidd  expend  and  use  all  lier 
resources  to  protect,  guide,  encom-age,  train,  and  save  her  own  chddren. 
For  millions,  it  is  then  or  never.     Lost  then,  we  can  reach  them  no 


246  Management  of  Sunday  Sclwols. 

inoi-o  :  so  far  as  iinio  and  liiuiiau  agency  arc  concerned,  ilicy  seem  lost 
for  ever. 

But,  if  tlie  clnu'cli  is  to  render  tliis  paramount  seryice  to  her  children 
Avhom  si  10  may  call  her  own,  though  she  see  tliem  wandering  from  her 
into  ways  of  death ; — if  slie  will  answer  with  a  clear  conscience  that 
awful  question  of  her  Lord,  who  demands  from  licr  His  own  -whom  ITe 
liad  intrusted  to  her,  it  is  plain  that  the  church  must  accompany  and 
follow  her  young  people  into  the  crowded  arena  of  life  wliither  tliey 
have  gone.  It  is  tliere  that  they  need  warning  coimsel  and  protecting 
care  to  guard  them  amid  the  perils  that  suiTOund  them  :  it  is  there, 
amid  the  maze  of  many  perplexing  qiiestions,  that  they  need  most  sm'e 
and  kindly  guidance :  it  is  for  the  new  duties  of  life  that  await  them 
there,  that  they  need  inspiration  and  training  ;  and  it  is  in  order  to 
quell  the  syren  blandishment  of  evil  pleasures  that  seduce  them  there, 
that  the  true  and  piu'e  dehghts  of  a  noble  life  must  be  made  to  shine 
brightly  on  them. 

Hence  it  is  that  many,  like  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen  this  afternoon, 
have  pleaded  with  the  church  that,  going  forth  into  the  world 
for  and  with  her  cliilch'en  who  are  there,  she  should  take  part  in 
their  practical  and  healthful  education  dui-ing  tliese  momentoiis  and 
critical  years  in  then'  history,  that  she  should  imite  her  influence  to  the 
great  powers  and  agencies  which  the  State  is  creating  for  the  continuous 
education  of  om*  yomig  people  during  the  leisure  evening  hours  of  the 
day,  and  that  she  should  make  then*  education  such  as  will  wisely  prepare 
them  for  the  duties  and  trials  of  life.  Education,  to  do  this,  must 
not  only  impart  useful  knowledge,  but  it  must  inform  the  soid  and 
train  the  body.  It  must  refine  the  taste,  quicken  holily  the  imagina- 
tion, and  inspii'e  the  common  work-a-day  experience  with  noblest 
elements  of  thought  and  joy. 

Hence,  too,  I  now  plead  that  the  church  lay  hold  of  one  of  tlie 
subtlest,  most  penetrative  and  formative,  most  powerful  and  universal 
of  influences  that  mould  and  temper  the  character,  fashion  opinion, 
bias  the  judgment,  guide  the  springs  of  action,  and  elevate  or  degi-ade 
the  life.  I  think  I  may  safely  affirm  that  the  home  reading  of  oitr 
young  people  is  one  of  those  influences  that  at  tliis  moment  is  wield- 
ing an  immense  and  incalculable  power  over  then*  mmost  thought  and 
feeling,  then'  speech  and  behaviom*.  It  is  an  infli;ence,  alas !  wliicli  I 
feel  combines  at  present  with  other  forces  to  draw  them  away  from  the 
chiu'ch ;  but  it  is  an  influence  wMch  the  chiurh  may  seize  and  use  so 
as  by  it  to  fulfil  at  least  apart  of  her  mission  in  the  guardiansliip  of  the 
young  and  then-  wise  moral  training  as  they  enter  among  the  enchant- 
ments, the  dangers,  and  the  duties  of  real  life. 

Let  us  look  at  the  facts  of  the  case.  In  our  day  schools  we  have 
dowered  the  people  with  the  gift  of  reading.  It  is  often  the  only  gift 
that  remains  of  all  that  was  learnt  at  school,  being  kept  in  exercise  by 
the  reading  of  journals  and  newspapers,  when  other  gifts  are  disused 
and  lost.     Not  only  is  the  faculty  given,  but  an  appetite  for  reading  is 


Home  McaditKj  Circles.  247 

often  awakened — an  iippctitc  that  is  stimulated  bj  the  cnriosity  tliat  is 
natiii-al  to  youth,  and  by  the  manifold  and  exciting  pleasures  that  tlu-ill 
the  young  imagination  in  the  wonder-world  of  adventure  and  romance 
to  which  the  "open  Sesame"  has  been  given  them. 

Now  what  a  great  respousibihty  has  been  thrown  npon  the  church 
in  her  moral  and  spiritual  training  of  the  young  by  this  universal  and 
most  fateful  gift  of  reading  that  has  been  bestowed  on  them.  Some, 
seeing  the  malign  results  of  this  gift  so  ])rcgnant  for  evil  as  for  good, 
hare  deplored  its  bestowment  on  the  people.  That,  however,  is  an  idle, 
and  a  foolish,  and  an  impious  complaint.  We  cannot  and  we  would  not 
withdraw  this  gift,  and  the  marvellous  influences  that  it  brings  with  it ; 
but  we  must  tiu'ii  to  face  and  ponder,  as  we  have  not  yet  done,  the  new 
and  tremendous  responsibility  which  is  thi'own  thereby  upon  the 
chm'ch,  and  especially  upon  that  branch  of  the  clim-eh  which  takes 
charge  of  the  young,  and  which,  therefore,  must  secure  for  tliem  effective 
guidance  and  help  in  the  use  of  this  magically  potent  gift. 

At  present,  looking  broadly  at  the  condition  and  needs  of  the  people 
in  this  respect,  and  remembering,  too,  all  that  has  been  attempted,  may 
I  not  say  we  have  bestowed  on  the  people  this  gift,  upon  the  use  or  abuse 
of  which  so  much,  of  their  well-being  or  misery  depends,  but  we  have 
done  little  as  a  nation  to  train  and  help  them  in  the  right  use  of  this 
gift  ?  This  question,  however,  which  has  large  national,  economic,  and 
social  issues  to  which  I  thus  merely  advert,  comes  with  special 
emphasis  to  the  church  aud  the  Sunday  school,  because,  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  gift  of  readmg  is  charged,  in  an  extraordinary  measure, 
with  those  moral  influences,  for  which  the  chui'ch  is  responsible,  that 
inspu-e  and  form  character ;  aud  because  it  works  most  mightily  in  this 
respect  and  to  this  result  dm-ing  the  adolescent  years,  for  which  the 
Sunday  school  is  responsible.  These  ai-e  the  years  in  which  it  may 
almost  be  said  that  the  moral  personality  is  bona, — in  which  at  least  it 
asserts  and  defiuitely  forms  itself.  The  child  whom  you  designate  by 
the  pronoun  "  it  "  has  now  become  the  boy  or  girl,  of  whom  you  speak 
as  "he"  or  "she."  Aud  these  are  the  years  too,  in  which,  pre- 
eminently, through  the  avenues  of  sensibdity  and  imagination,  by  the 
force  of  example  aud  conu'adeship,  and  by  the  ideals  that  are  pre- 
sented to  inflame  the  ambition  and  moiild  the  ardent,  ductile  natm'e 
of  youth,  this  moral  personahty  can  be  educated,  and  fashioned  for 
better  or  for  worse.  Nor  am  I  wrong  in  saying  as  I  have  done  that, 
in  these  years  of  youth,  reachug,  '  home  reading,'  has  a  most  intensive, 
subtle,  fonnative  influence ; — touching  to  the  very  quick,  aud  sdently, 
continuously  impregnating,  the  roots  of  moral  impulse ;  opening  the 
liidden  fountains  of  desire  and  resolve,  and  cutting  the  channels  of  their 
flowing ;  and  so,  gi-adnally,  secretly — in  ways  that  may  not  even  be 
suspected  by  the  reader — determining  his  charactei",  framing  his  speech 
and  actions,  and  fixing  the  issues  of  his  hfe.  What  examples  rise  up 
before  om*  mind  to  assm-e  us  of  this  truth :  nay,  if  we  but  recollect 
omrselves,  what  memories  flash  upon  us  to  emphasize  it!     It  was  with 


248  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

lion-or  we  read  tlie  story  of  those  two  Tuubridge  "Wells  lads — uim-derers 
and  dead  on  tlie  gallows  before  tliey  finished  their  seventeenth  year. 
They  expiated  in  part  theii-  crime  by  then*  confession,  so  as  to  arouse  xis 
to  a  sense  of  the  fascinations  that  beset  and  destroy  om-  youth,  in  order 
that  we  may  seek  to  dehver  them.    Erom  the  day  they  left  school  these 
two  lads  had  excited  and  drugged  their  imagination  by  the  cheap  mad- 
denrntr  Uteratiu'e  that  abounds  for  such  as  they  were.     The  influence 
struck  home  ;  no  poison  could  work  more  certainly  and  more  fatally. 
They  beheved  the  true  heroism — the  real  worth  of  life — was  to  pluck  olf 
yoru-  victim  as  coolly  as  you  would  a  bu-d,  and  then  to  die  game !    .And 
they  fulfilled  with  absolute  and  villainous  accm-acy  the  part  they  had  been 
educated  by  then-  home  reading  to  think  so  splendid.   Thus,  murderous 
vice  had  decked  itself  with  a  garish  beauty  in  the  wicked  romances  which 
were  theu*  sole  malignant  nutriment  dm-iug  the  youuj  adolescent  years 
in  wliich  I  have  said  the  aims  of  life  are  formed  and  character  is  made. 
They  drank  the  ciip  of  the  sorceress,  sparkling  with  its  delu-ious  potions, 
and  met  an  a^vfid.  doom.     This   case  is  exceptional,  but  only  in  the 
rapidity  with  which  the  mental  poison  worked,  and  in  the  sombre 
tragedy  wliich  filled  the  public  stage  for  a  while.     The  same  deadly 
infiuences  are  working   eveiywhere.      The   process  and  law  of  then- 
operation  are  inevitable.     We  have  given  rmiversaUy   the   pov\'er   of 
reading  and  the  appetite  for  it ;  and  om-  yomig  people,  aflame  with 
cm-iositv  which  reading  may  satisfy,  prone  to  morbid  feehug  and  reckless 
impulse  which  reading  may  stimulate,  are  left  largely  to  the  seduc- 
tions of  a  vast  popular  hteratm-e  created  for  them,  which  is  garnished 
with  varying  allm-ements,  which  often  panders  to  the  worst  and  too 
seldom  favovu-s  the  best  in  human  chai-acter. 

Such  are  some  of  the  reasons  that  make  the  care  and  dn-ection  of  the 
home  reading  of  the  yoimg  a  most  important  and  necessary  part  of 
what  has  been  called  the  "  week-day  work  "  of  the  Smiday  school.  And 
to  assist  the  Simday  school  in  this  work  is  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  the 
National  Home  E,eading  Union,  as  it  has  been  one  of  the  chief  reasons  for 
the  formation  of  that  Union.  Hence  therefore,  on  behalf  of  the  National 
Home  Beading  Union,  I  now  appeal  for  the  immediate  and  earnest 
co-operation  of  aU  the  Simday  school  teachers  thi-oughout  the  coimtry ; 
for  without  them  the  Home  Eeading  Union  cannot  reach  and  help  the 
youth  of  the  country  as  it  desires.  And  to  secure  this  co-operation, 
for  which  I  plead,  I  desu-e  to  explain  clearly  the  aims  and  methods  of 
the  National  Home  Eeading  Union  in  that  branch  of  its  work  which 
concerns  the  young. 

I  can  briefly  define  the  aims  of  the  Union  by  saying  that  it  desii-es  to 
prevent  the  waste  of  time  and  mental  energy  which  aimless  and  ill- 
directed  reading  produces,  and  the  far  gi-eater  evUs  which  are  wrought 
by  the  reading  of  frivolous  and  immoral  hteratm-e  ;  and  to  confer  the 
benefits  that  may  be  given  by  means  of  educative  and  inspiring  htera- 
tiire,  adapted  to  the  tastes  and  requirements  of  young  peoi^le.  Its 
object,  therefore,  is  precisely  similar  to  that  which  I  have  said  must  be 


Home  Ticad'nuj  CircUs.  249 

the  object  of  the  C'luu-cli,  viz.,  so  far  as  it  can,  worthily  lo  iiiflueiiijc  aud 
direct  the  home-readiug  of  her  young  people  ;  aud  it  seeks  to  put  into 
the  liauds  of  the  Church  an  agency  tlu'ough  which  its  responsibility  can 
be  in  part  fidlllled. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  whilst  tlie  duty  is  so  lU'gent  it  is  by  no 
means  easy.  This  adolescent  life,  which  is  morally  the  critical  and 
determining  period  of  life,  is  the  most  diQIcult  to  coutrol.  Needing 
guidance  most,  it  brooks  guidance  least.  Whatever  is  done  for  our 
young  people,  then,  must  be  done  not  coercively,  but  with  a  right  imder- 
standing  of  their  nature,  so  as  allure  aud  interest  them ;  and  all  the 
nobler  influences  nuist  be  sought  for  in  literature,  that  will  naturally 
inspu'e  and  mould  theu'  thought  and  feeling.  Further,  the  instincts  of 
comradeship  and  the  mighty  forces  that  are  developed  through  per- 
sonal sympathy  and  the  fellowship  of  large  numbers  banded  together 
in  some  common  work,  must  be  awakened  and  stimulated  and  brought 
into  our  sen'ice. 

The  first  desideratum  accordingly  is  the  right  selection  of  books — 
books  which  nuist  be  written  in  a  style  to  attract  young  people,  to 
appeal  with  a  certain  fascination  to  their  young  natiires,  and  open  to 
them  the  wonders  of  the  world  aud  of  Ufe  on  which  they  have  entered 
aud  on  which  they  look  with  minds  alive  with  wonder  and  curiosity  : 
and  those  books  must  be  very  cheap,  so  that  they  may  be  accessible  to 
all.  The  principles  which  I  think  should  determine  the  selection  of 
books  for  boys  and  girls  has  been  stated  by  me  in  a  letter  to  Lady 
Aberdeen,  in  which  I  enumerate  the  following  subjects  that  are  sug- 
gested for  a  course  of  reading  : — 

(1)  The  Faculties  of  Observation  aud  their  training — showing  how 
the  observing  faculties  might  be  developed  aud  used. 

(2)  JElementari/  Science,  especially  as  appUed  to  health,  trade,  kc. 

(3)  Biography.  Lives  of  heroic  men  and  women,  so  that  the  minds 
of  young  people  may  be  filled  with  lieroic  ideals,  and  that  it  may  bo 
shown  them  how  every  sphere  of  life  offers  opportunities  for  true 
heroism,  for  corn-age,  sacrifice,  fidehty  to  truth,  and  noble  service  to  God 
and  men. 

(4.)  Adnenture — aud  the  trainuig  of  the  active'powers  for  life, — show- 
ing that  high  aims  are  worthy  of  great  efforts,  and  guiding  tlius  tlie 
pidses  of  young  life  and  ambition. 

(5)  Motion, — showing  the  ixses  of  it, — aud  how  it  can  be  wisely  reacL 

(6)  Natural  History, — to  give  interest  in  lUitural  scenery,  and  in 
flowei'S  and  animals. 

(7)  Natural  History — special  epochs  and  episodes,  taught  so  as  to 
quicken  patriotism. 

A  hst  of  ten  books,  embodying  all  these  subjects,  each  costing  about 
a  shilling  on  an  average,  has  been  drawn  nj^  by  The  National  Home 
Beading  Union,  for  the  boys  and  gu-ls  m  our  Smiday  schools :  there 
should  be  at  least  two  more  on  rehgious  aud  Biblical  subjects.  I  think  I 
can  promise  for  the  National  Home  Reading  Union  that  the  books  selected 
for  reading  will  be  iuspu-ed  with  reverence  for  Grod  aud  sympathy  with 


250  Manaijcmcnl  of  Sunday  Schools. 

ClirisUau  triiLli ;  biit,  as  it  seeks  to  assouialc  with  all  ovganizatioiis  and 
cliiu'ches,  it  cannot  deal  with  specific  religioiis  doctrmes,  but  will  leave 
these  to  be  elucidated  and  enforced  by  the  Clmstian  bodies  that  are 
oonstitiited  and  exist  for  this  object.  I  beUeve  all  the  books  of  the 
National  Home  Reading  Union  will  be  boimd  in  its  own  coyer,  but  I 
can  see  no  diilicidty  in  binding  in  this  cover  the  additional  volumes 
that  are  desired  by  the  Sunday  School  Union  or  by  other  Sunday  school 
organizations.  By  this  simple  means  they  will  be  meluded  in  the  regular 
coiu-se  of  reading  for  the  scholars.  Bound  in  the  same  binding,  they  will 
fonn  an  integral  part  of  the  year's  coi.u'se  of  reading,  rm-ther,  the  name 
of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  or  of  any  particular  school,  might  be 
printed  on  the  cover  of  all  the  books  read  by  these  scholars,  so  that  it 
may  be  seen  that  these  scholars  are  associated  together  as  members  of 
that  school  and  of  the  Smiday  School  Union,  as  well  as  of  the  National 
Home  Reading  Union.  If  two  religious  and  Bibhcal  books  were  thus 
selected  by  the  Sunday  School  Union,  or  by  any  school,  to  be  added  to 
the  hst  of  the  National  Home  Eeadiug  Union,  there  would  then  be 
twelve  books  at  one  shilling  each  for  the  year's  reading,  or  one  book  for 
each  month.  No  reader  need  be  compelled  to  read  all  these  books,  but 
tliat  shoidd  be  the  prescribed  com-se  for  which  certificates  are  given  and 
all  practicable  help  is  ofiered. 

Now,  the  second  desideratum  is  the  help  and  encom-agement  that  can 
be  provided  for  these  readers.  I  fear  it  would  be  of  comparatively  little 
use  simply  to  pubhsh  a  list  of  books,  however  excellent,  and  say  to  our 
boys  and  gu4s,  Read  these.  What  more,  then,  does  the  National  Home 
Readmg  Union  ? 

First,  it  em'ols  each  reader  as  a  member,  so  that  he  comes  into  per- 
sonal relation  with  it,  and  is  associated  with  a  vast  nmnber  of  other 
readers  like  himself.  The  fee  for  men^bersldp  is  exceedingly  small,  so 
that  no  boy  or  gu-l  may  be  deterred  thereby.  It  is  only  Is.  per  annum , 
and  tliis  fee  includes  the  price  of  the  monthly  jomiial,  which  is  sent 
to  each  member,  and  by  which  his  or  her  interest  in  tlie  work  of  the 
Union,  of  wliich  they  are  members,  wiU  be  maintained.  Now,  this 
journal  will  be  one  of  the  great  bonds  of  fellowship,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  means  of  continvial,  ever-recm'ring  help  and  incentive.  Its 
objects  are  thus  stated  in  the  letter  I  have  named : — 

(1)  to  give  introductions  to  each  book  that  is  to  be  read,  showuig  its 
main  points  of  interest — the  good  to  be  got  fi'om  it — the  best  ways  of 
reading  it,  &c. ;  (2)  to  give  explanatory  notes,  such  as  a  tutor  woi\ld 
give  a  class,  on  words,  &c.,  in  the  books  read  ;  (3)  as  far  as  possible  to 
answer  difficidties  that  are  found  in  these  books  by  then-  readers ;  (4)  to 
show  tlie  influence  of  "reading"  upon  character  and  the  happiness  of 
life,  and  thus  to  awaken  a  deeper  sense  of  the  educative  value  of  "  read- 
ing ;"  (5)  to  make  announcements,  and,  to  create  a  bond  of  fellowship 
between  readers. 

In  addition  memoranda  sheets  will  be  sent  to  each  member,  so  that, 
if  possible,  a  short  account  of  what  has  been  read  may  be  sent  by  each 
reader  once  a  month,  and  any  special  difficulties  may  be  stated  that 


Jfovir.  liCa/HiKj  Viirlis.  251 

need  explanation.  These  i-ecurcl  nu'uioranda  will  be  kept,  and  cer- 
tificates will  be  given  at  the  end  of  the  yeai*  according  to  the  work 
done.  A  sjjccial  certificate  will  be  given  at  the  end  of  the  full  course, 
wliich  will  extend  over  three  years. 

Second,  readers,  Avherever  ])ossible,  are  to  be  as.sociated  in  circles,  no 
a.s  to  meet  onee  a  week,  fortnight,  or  month,  under  some  good  leader,  in 
order  to  discuss  the  subjects  tliat  have  been  read,  and  to  associate  with 
tlicir  reading  some  illustrati\e  pictorial,  or  object  and  experimental, 
teaching.  Why  shoidd  not  each  senior  class,  luider  its  own  teacher — 
as  leader — thns  form  a  Heading  Circle?  These  circles  should  be,  if 
possible,  connected  with  a  particidar  school,  and  become  the  basis  of 
Old  Scholars'  Associations  in  eveiy  school.  It  is  most  desirable  to 
form  such  associations  in  connection  with  all  schools,  so  that  the  old 
scholars  may  cherish  an  esprit  de  corps  and  cultivate  loyalty  to  their 
old  school,  and  may  further,  during  the  most  important  years  of  life, 
be  ke^at  in  relationship)  dnring  tlie  week  days  with  their  old  companions 
and  teachers,  which  will  be  most  helpfid  to  them. 

Third,  there  must  be  prizes,  certificates,  and  badges  or  other  decora- 
tions ;  and  there  should  be  yearly  re-unions  of  the  cu'cles  connected 
■with  the  Simday  schools  in  each  district. 

I  believe  that  there  will  be  no  honorary  members  connected  directly 
with  the  central  organisation  of  the  National  ITome  Reading  Union. 
It  is,  however,  earnestly  deshed  that  there  may  be  such  honorary 
mcmbei"s  or  associates  of  the  Union — only  they  are  to  be  connected 
with  it  through  its  several  branches  or  district  associations  or  commit- 
tees that  are  formed  to  devclope  the  myi'iad  work  of  the  Union  in 
connection  with  all  classes  of  readers.  Such  honorary  members  may 
then  contribute  to  the  small  initial  expense  involved  in  this  missionary 
propaganda.  In  like  manner  there  may  be  honorary  members  of  the 
Union  associated  with  the  various  local  chclcs  formed  in  our  Sunday 
schools  who  will  encourage  by  a  small  contribution  the  enthusiasm  and 
good  conduct  of  these  young  readers  by  the  distribution  of  prizes  or 
badges.  The  National  Home  Reading  Union  will  give  its  own  certifi- 
cates ;  but  the  worth  of  these  certificates  may  thus  be  accentuated  by 
local  sympathy  and  approval. 

All  this  looks  large  and  complex  ;  but  in  reality  it  is  most  simple, 
and  will  work  like  clockwork.  I  conclude  by  stating  the  four  proposi- 
tions which  I  drew  up  for  the  consideration  of  a  meeting  held  in  the 
London  School  Board  offices  on  July  15,  1S87,  and  wliich  set  forth 
the  objects  that  might  be  accomplished  by  the  National  Home  Reading 
Union : — 

i.  To  stimulate,  encourage,  and  direct  home  reading  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  home  reading  educational  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word. 

ii.  To  give  definiteness,  continuity,  and  system  to  home  reatUng,  and 
to  adapt  it  to  the  divers  needs  and  tastes  of  readers, 

iii.  To  give  all  practical  help,  in  the  most  economical  and  efficient 
way,  to  those  who  engage  in  such  reading. 


252  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

iv.  Ey  means  of  local  unions,  or  associations  of  readers,  and  the 
influences  of  a  large  organization,  as  well  as  by  personal  sympathy,  to 
sustain  the  interest  and  confirm  the  purpose  of  all  who  imdertake  a 
regular  course  of  home  reading,  and  to  unite  them  in  honourable  and 
lielpful  fellowship  with  each  other. 

In  conclusion  I  invite  and  urge  all  Sunday  school  tea(tliers  and  the 
elder  scholars  of  all  our  schools  to  unite  in  tliis  honom-ablc  and  helpful 
fellowsliip  with  each  other  and  -with  others  in  the  National  Home 
Beading  Union.* 

BOYS'  BEIGADE. 

jB^  Me.  W.  a.  Smith  {Olasgoiu). 

(This  paper  was  taken  as  read.) 

The  Boys'  Brigade  aims  at  nothing  less  than  leading  the  boys  enrolled 
in  its  rants  to  Jesiis  Clu-ist,  as  their  Saviour,  Leader,  and  Friend. 

Its  ohject,  as  stated  in  the  constitution,  is  "  the  advancement  of 
Clu'ist's  kingdom  among  boys,  and  the  promotion  of  habits  of  rever- 
ence, discipline,  self-respect,  and  all  that  tends  towards  a  true  Christian 
manliness." 

MHitary  organization  and  drill  are  used  as  a  means  of  secm-ing  tlie 
interest  of  the  boys,  banding  them  together,  and  promoting  among  them 
such  habits  as  the  brigade  is  designed  to  form. 

It  was  instituted  nearly  sis  years  ago,  in  a  Sunday  school  in  the  city 
of  Glasgow,  and  from  this  smgle  unit,  with  its  three  officers  and  thh-ty 
boys,  there  has  grown  an  organization  which  to-day  numbers  over 
300  companies,  1000  officers,  and  nearly  15,000  boys,  with  a  permanent 
headquarters'  office,  a  paid  staff,  and  an  official  Gazette  issued  bi-monthly 
by  the  executive  committee  for  the  use  of  officers. 

It  has  not  only  spread  over  tlie  length  and  breadth  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  but  has  already  taken  root  in  the  United  States,  in  Canada, 
and  m  New  Zealand,  while  inquiries,  with  a  view  to  the  formation  of 
companies,  ai'c  continually  being  received  from  other  colonies  and 
countries  throughout  the  world. 

The  Brigade  is  composed  of  boys  between  twelve  and  seventeen  years 
of  age,  who  are  formed  into  "  companies,"  each  company  being  neces- 
sarily connected  with  some  chiu'ch,  Sunday  school,  or  other  Christian 
oi'ganization.  This  connection  secm-es  the  support  of  a  recognized 
Christian  body,  whose  sanction  is  requh'ed  to  the  formation  of  the  com- 
pany and  the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  whose  sympathy  and 
responsibility  are  thus  enhsted  as  a  help  and  strength  to  tlie  company 
from  its  commencement. 

*  The  Victoria  Beading  Circle,  tinder  the  conduct  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Sunday  School  Union,  has  been  established  since  January,  1887.  Its 
objects  are  in  harmony  with  that  to  which  Dr.  Paton  refers,  and  has  in 
view  specially  Teachers  and  Senior  Scholars.  Full  particulars  can  be  had 
of  the  Secretary,  5G,  Old  Bailey,  London,  E.C. — Ed. 


Tlio  Erig.'uld  is  outircly  uiidciiomiii'iHonal,  coi\\\M\n\ca  being  fi)ruiccl  in 
coniipcliou  with  all  the  leading  Protestant  churches. 

Tlio  companies  are  named  and  numbered  according  to  place  and 
order  of  formation,  as  "1st  Glasgow,"  "1st  London,"  "1st  Edinburgh." 

Where  six  or  more  companies  exist  in  any  town  or  district,  they 
may,  with  the  sanction  of  tlie  Brigade  Executive  Committee,  form  them- 
selves into  what  is  called  a  "  battalion,"  tlie  officers  of  which  constitute 
a  battalion  council,  for  the  management  of  their  own  aflaii-s. 

The  term  "  i?;7_i70(/e  "  embraces  the  whole  organization  ;  the  Brigade 
Conned  consists  of  the  captains  of  all  the  companies,  and  an  executive 
committee  is  appointed  by  the  comicil  each  year,  to  administer  the 
affairs  of  the  Brigade,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Brigade  Council. 

The  Boys'  Brigade  owes  its  origin  to  the  felt  want  of  some  power,  over 
and  above  the  ordinary  Sunday  school  organization,  to  enable  us  to  grapple 
with  the  difficidt  question  of  how  to  hold  and  influence  our  older  boys. 

It  cannot  be  too  clearly  imderstood  that  the  Brigade  is  meant,  in  no 
sense  whatever,  to  take  tlie  place  of  the  Sunday  school.  It  is  an 
auxiliary/,  pure  and  simple,  and  that  company  which  is  not  exerting  an 
iiifluence  for  good  on  the  school  with  which  it  is  connected,  which  is 
not  increasing  the  attendance  of  the  boys,  strengthening  the  hands  of 
the  teachers,  and  improving  the  whole  tone  of  the  school,  is  failing  to 
realize  its  object  as  a  company  of  the  Boys'  Brigade. 

If  wo  wish  to  do  effective  Christian  work  among  boys,  a  first  essential 
is  that  we  thoroughly  understand  the  matei'ial  we  have  got  to  deal  with. 

We  must  go  deep  down  into  boy- nature,  we  must  throw  oin-selves 
alongside  our  boys  and  get  to  knoiv  them,  not  merely  by  name  and  by 
face,  but  to  know  their  hearts  and  theu*  thoughts,  their  likes  and  theu' 
dislikes,  their  prejudices  and  their  sympathies. 

And  a  wonderful  world  we  will  find  this  boy-world  to  be,  a  woi-ld  so 
fresh  and  so  bright  that  we  will  have  cause  to  thank  God  that  He  ever 
gave  us  the  privilege  of  coming  into  touch  with  it.  Once  we  luider- 
stand  the  boys,  we  will  soon  leai*n  to  love  them,  to  sympathize  with 
them,  to  believe  in  them,  and  this  is  the  first  step  towards  any  real 
inlluence  over  them. 

I  read  somewhere  recently  of  a  boy  who  was  asked,  in  the  course  of  a 
Scripture  examination,  to  give  a  short  accomit  of  the  life  of  David. 
His  answer  consisted  of  two  words,  "  Kild  Glia,"  spelt  "  K-I-L-D 
G-L-I-A."  In  these  two  mutdated  words  he  meant  to  give  the  sum 
and  substance  of  David's  encounter  with  the  Giant.  Tliis  to  him  con- 
tained the  pith  of  David's  life.  There  is  a  delicious  freshness  about  this 
biography,  it  is  so  perfectly  boylike. 

For  the  boy  everytlung  must  be  short  and  sharp,  and  clear  and 
crisp.  It  must  harmonise  with  his  restless  nature.  He  doesn't  want 
to  hear  long  sei-raons,  to  make  long  prayei's,  to  read  long  dry  books. 
"  Kild  Glia  "  is  probably  about  as  much  as  the  average  boy  wants  to 
know  or  to  think,  at  one  sitting,  about  David  or  anyone  else.  There  is 
more  in  the  boylike  brevity  of   this  description  of  David's  hfe  than 


254  Manarjement  of  Stmclai/  Schools. 

perhaps  we  realize.  Boys  are  far  too  full  of  life  to  be  long  at  rest,  and 
we  are  bound  to  sympathize  with  this.  We  are  boiuid  to  judge  their 
thoughts  and  ideas  by  ti-ying  to  look  at  everytliing  fi-om  the  boy's 
point  of  view.     Then,  and  only  then,  can  we  really  understand  them. 

And,  in  order  to  thoroughly  adapt  our  methods  to  this  boy-nature, 
we  must  deal  with  boys  hj/  themselves.  Tliis  unspeakable  advantage  wo 
have  in  the  Boys'  Brigade.     It  is  a  io^s''  concern  from  top  to  bottom. 

We  can  thus  leave  everything  out  of  our  plans  that  we  feel  would 
mar  the  effect,  and  we  can  introduce  everything  that  we  believe  to  be 
helpful  and  right. 

It  was  the  conviction  that  boys  were  too  important  a  part  of  the 
world  to  be  slumped  along  with  the  rest  of  humanity,  and  treated  iu 
the  general  mass,  that  led  to  the  formation  of  the  Boys'  Brigade.  It 
was  the  consciousness  that  the  old  methods,  however  admirable,  were 
not  sufficient,  that  we  wanted  sometlaing  that  would  appeal  to  the  boys 
as  hoi/s,  something  that  woidd  be  distinctively  their  own,  something 
that  would  awaken  in  them  that  "esprit  de  corps,"  which  a  soldier  feck 
for  his  regiment,  his  country,  and  his  queen. 

Boys  are  extremely  susceptible  and  sensitive,  and  are  swayed  much 
liy  the  opinion  of  then"  fellows.  Among  boys  generally  there  is  im- 
doubtedly  an  impression  that  to  be  a  Chi-istian  means  to  be  a  molly 
coddle.  Who  is  to  blame  for  this  we  do  not  stop  to  inqiure.  Suffice  it 
to  say  that  it  cannot  be  altogether  the  faidt  of  the  boys. 

The  first  thmg  we  have  to  do,  then,  is  to  give  the  boys  a  true  concep- 
tion, ^ro«i  a,  hoy's  point  ofvieio,  of  what  it  is  to  follow  Clmst.  And  here 
we  must  remember  that  the  service  of  Christ  for  a  boy  is  a  very  different 
thing  from  the  seiwice  of  Chi-ist  for  an  old  man,  and  we  must  avoid  the 
too  fi-equent  mistake  of  arguing  from  Chi-istian  work  among  grown-up 
people  to  Christian  work  among  boys. 

A  very  worthy  captain  in  the  Boys'  Brigade  came  to  me  the  other 
day,  and,  with  a  very  long  face  and  a  very  sorrowfiJ  countenance, 
stated  that  they  were  having  a  week  of  evangelistic  services  in  the 
Simday  school  with  wliich  liis  company  was  connected,  and  that  he 
was  very  much  disappointed  to  find  that  the  Brigade  boys  seemed  to 
prefer  playing  cricket  outside  to  going  in  to  the  evangelistic  meeting. 
I  told  him  that  I  thought  it  was  most  natm-al  that  his  boys  shoidd 
prefer  playing  cricket,  and  said  that  I  hoped  he  would  be  very  careful 
not  to  make  his  boys  imagine  for  a  moment  that  it  was  less  pleasing  to 
then-  Heavenly  Father  that  they  should  be  out  in  the  open  an*  playing 
cricket,  on  a  fine  siunmer  evening,  than  that  they  should  go  inside  to 
an  evaugehstic  meeting. 

Christ  wants  the  ivhole  hoy,  as  a  hoy,  not  the  whole  boy  as  a  man, 
not  even  part  of  the  boy  as  a  man,  and  the  other  part  as  a  boy,  but  the 
whole,  restless,  eager,  happy  boy,  as  a  boy,  and  as  nothmg  else.  And 
it  is  this  v/liole,  unspoiled  boy,  that  the  Boye'  Brigade  sets  itself  to  win 
for  Christ.  If  you  want  to  lead  a  boy  to  Clu'ist,  yon  must  do  it  by 
training)  by  habitj  and  by  conduct.     You  must  not  be  too  eager  to  see 


Boys'  Brigade.  255 

results.  You  must  not  be  contmually  pulling  up  the  plant  to  see  how 
the  roots  are  growing.  You  must  be  content  to  wait  God's  time, 
sowing  the  seed  in  uever-flineliing  fjiitli,  knowing  that  the  harvest  is  in 
other  hands  than  yours. 

And  so,  in  the  Boys'  Bi-igade,  we  beghi  in  the  simplest  possible  way. 
We  wQl  suppose  the  case  of  a  school  where  difliculty  is  experienced  in 
dealing  with  the  boys ;  where  the  hold  over  them  is  slight,  where  the 
gi-eat  majority  of  them  leave  the  school  about  the  age  of  14  or  15, 
while  those  who  remain  are  for  the  most  part  rough  and  boorish,  and 
adopt  an  attitude  towards  the  school  which  seems  to  say  that  they 
confer  no  small  favom*  upon  the  teachers  by  coming  to  the  school 
instead  of  feehng,  as  they  ought  to  do,  that  it  is  a  very  great  privilege 
to  be  allowed  to  come.  This  is  no  imaginary  case,  but  a  case  which  we 
have  seen  over  and  over  again  ;  and  the  sequel  which  is  to  follow  has, 
I  am  glad  to  say,  been  also  a  fi-eqnent  and  happy  experience. 

In  tliis  school,  then,  it  is  decided  to  form  a  company  of  the  Boys' 
Brigade.  The  sanction  of  the  chm-ch  or  school  authority  is  first 
obtained,  and  suitable  men  are  secured  for  officers  fi-om  among  the 
teachers  or  office  bearers  if  possible.  One  of  these  must  be  a  man 
with  some  military  experience.  So  much  the  better  if  all  are  so 
qualified.  All  must  he  men  of  tmdouhted  Christian  character,  men  who 
will  give  a  true  "  ring "  to  everything  connected  with  the  company, 
who  will  set  a  high  example  before  the  boys,  and  keep  the  distmctly 
Clu'istian  aims  of  the  movement  continually  in  view.  The  appointment  of 
such  men  as  officers  is  absolutely  essential  as  a  first  condition  of  success. 

It  is  then  intimated  to  the  boys  that  a  company  is  to  be 
formed,  the  nature  of  the  movement  is  explained  to  them,  and  all 
those  between  twelve  and  seventeen  who  desire  to  join  are  invited 
to  meet  together  on  a  certain  evening.  The  floor  of  the  hall 
is  cleared  beforehand  by  a  squad  of  boys  told  ofi"  for  the  pm-pose. 
When  the  doors  are  opened,  in  they  come  pell-mell,  tumbling  over 
each  other,  as  if  to  have  a  last  fling,  before  order  and  discipluie 
assert  then-  sway.  But  they  are  no  sooner  into  the  hall  than  the 
order  to  form  up  in  single  rank  is  given,  and  the  boys  at  once  are 
eager  to  conform.  A  short  prayer  is  ofi'ered,  and  God's  blessing  asked 
on  the  work  which  is  about  to  commence.  From  that  moment  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  an  officer  who  has  the  right  qualifications  can  do 
practically  what  he  likes  with  the  boys.  Prompt,  vmquestioning 
obedience  to  all  orders  is  laid  down  as  a  fii-st  rule.  The  boys  enter  into 
the  spu'it  of  the  thing.  To  obey  becomes  a  pleasure,  because  it  is  a 
soldierly  duty.  They  are  told  that  they  must  always  come  on  parade 
sharp  to  the  minute,  looldng  smart  and  clean,  with  boots  pohshed,  faces 
and  hands  washed,  and  hair  brushed.  They  must  always  salute  their 
officers  when  they  meet  them  or  addi'ess  them,  either  in  the  hall  or  in 
the  street.  They  are  taught  that,  to  be  true  Brigade  boys,  they  must 
be  through  and  through,  with  no  oham  about  them ;  that  they  must 
s  prry  the  spirit  and  priuyiples  of  the  Brigade  into  every  part  of  (.lieiV 


25 G  Management  of  Sunday  ScJiools. 

lives  ;  that  they  must  not  only  obey  thcii-  oQIccts  on  parade,  but  their 
parents  at  home,  theh-  masters  at  work,  theii*  teachers  at  sehool,  and, 
above  all,  that  they  must  give  prompt  and  unswerving  obedience  to 
GocVs  iv'dl  in  whatever  He  commands  them  to  do.  They  are  taught  to 
be  proud  of  their  company,  jealous  of  its  honour,  and  ashamed  to  do 
anything  that  would  disgrace  it.  They  are  expected  to  be  regular  in 
attendance  at  Sunday  school,  as  well  as  at  the  special  Eible  class  which 
is  now  to  be  found  in  most  companies,  and  there,  as  elsewhere,  to  set 
a  good  example  to  their  comrades  and  other  boys. 

Nor  do  we  sect,  with  all  this  di-ill  and  disciplme,  to  take  the  bright- 
ness out  of  their  lives.  We  just  give  the  boys  as  much  of  it  as  they 
can  lieartily  enjoy,  always  gomg  on  the  principle  that  they  shoidd 
never  get  as  much  as  they  want  of  di-ill  or  anything  else,  that  we  shoidd 
always  stop  before  they  wish  to  stop,  thus  keeping  a  reserve  of  interest 
to  work  upon  in  future. 

The  closing  services  at  di-ill  usually  consist  of  a  suitable  hymn,  sixch 
as  "  Soldiers  of  Christ,  Arise,"  sung  by  the  boys,  and  a  short  appropriate 
address  of  five  or  ten  minutes,  after  which  all  join  together  in  repeating 
the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  whole  concluding  with  the  National  Anthem, 
played  on  the  piano  or  harmonium,  or  by  the  band. 

The  xmiform  worn  on  parade  is  of  a  very  simple  and  inexpensive 
nature,  but  at  the  same  time  neat  and  effective.  It  consists  of  a 
"forage-cap"  and  waist-belt,  with  frequently  the  addition  of  a  wliite 
canvas  haversack  worn  over  the  right  shoulder.  The  sergeants  wear 
shoulder  belts,  and  all  the  non-commissioned  officers  wear  "  stripes," 
according  to  their  rank,  on  the  right  arm.  The  boys  wear  their  own 
clothes,  no  uniform  clotldng  bemg  worn  in  the  Brigade.  After  a  year  or 
two,  companies  that  can  afford  the  expense  generally  supply  themselves 
with  model  rifles,  which  still  further  add  to  the  interest  of  the  work  for 
the  boys. 

Besides  the  addresses  given  at  drill,  com'pa'ny  Bible  classes  are 
formed,  and  are  conducted  on  much  the  same  Ihies  as  a  Young  Men's 
Bible  Class,  except  that  the  military  organization  is  kept  in  view,  as 
far  as  it  is  helpful,  although  uniform  is  not  usually  worn.  The 
Company  Bible  Class  should  form  the  most  important  feature  of  every 
well-organized  company  of  the  Boys'  Brigade,  and  should  meet  at 
some  hour  that  does  not  interfe'-e  either  with  chm-ch  service  or  Sunday 
school.  Half-past  9  on  Sunday  mommg  is  found,  in  many  cases,  to  be 
a  vei-y  suitable  horn*,  and  it  is  amazing  how  the  boys  can  be  got  to 
attend  it,  often,  perhaps,  for  no  other  reason  to  begin  with,  than  that 
it  is  connected  with  the  company.  The  Bible  class  is  niade  as  bright 
and  attractive  as  possible,  with  bright  hymns,  short  prayers,  and  short, 
teUing  addresses. 

Some  companies  have  occasional  chttrcJi  parades,  when  all  the  boys  of 
the  company  muster  at  the  school,  and  march  to  church  in  miiform. 
It  is  also  becoming  customaiy  to  have  battalion  chm*ch  parades  on  a, 
large  scale. 


Boi/s'  JJrhjadc.  257 

We  form  iii  connection  with  ouv  companies  criclcet,  football,  swim- 
minr/,  and  athletic  clubs,  and  we  hold  nieotings  for  instruction  in  whatever 
is  calcnlatcd  to  improve  and  develop  either  the  physical  or  intellectual 
side  of  a  boy's  nature. 

Ambulanoc  instruction  in  "  first  aid  to  the  injured,"  under  competent 
medical  men,  forms  a  lending  feature  in  many  of  our  battalions  and 
companies. 

A  "  £oi/s'  Room  "  is  frequently  to  be  found,  Avhcre  the  boys  of  a  com- 
pany can  spend  the  lonp;  Avinter  evenings  in  a  pleasant  and  profitablo 
way,  in  reading,  games,  or  conversation. 

In  short,  the  Brigade  ninis  at  taking  up  everything  that  should  enter 
into  the  healthy  boy-life,  and  consecrating  it  all  to  the  service  of  C'lu-ist, 
"  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him,  and  He  shall  direct  thy  paths." 
We  break  down  once  for  all  in  a  boy's  mind  the  notion  that  Christianity 
is  a  thuig  for  Sunday  and  the  Simday  school,  and  has  nothing  to  do 
with  his  daily  life  diu'ing  the  rest  of  the  week  ;  and  we  try  to  make  him 
feel  that  there  is  no  part  of  his  life  which  is  beyond  the  range  of  God's 
interest  and  God's  love,  and  that  it  should  bo  just  as  natural  for  a  boy 
to  ask  God's  guidance  and  blessing  in  the  work  of  liis  cricket  club  as  in 
the  work  of  his  Bible-class  ;  that  everytliing  he  does  should  be  done  as 
in  God's  sight,  and  that  he  should  never  do  anything  that  he  canuot 
look  up  to  God  and  ask  His  blessmg  upon. 

Sunday  school  teachers  have  long  been  face  to  face  with  the  vital 
problem  of  how  to  deal  with  the  older  boys.  The  Boys'  Brigade  is  a 
practical  attempt  to  solve  this  question,  and  that  it  is  succeeding  iu 
doing  so  there  is  abundant  testimony  from  all  parts  of  the  khigdom. 

The  importance  of  such  work  canuot  be  over-estimated,  for  bound  up 
with  it  Ues  the  solution  of  many  of  the  pressmg  social  questions  of  the 
(Jay.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  boys  form  the  key  to  the  situa- 
tion. If  we  save  the  boys,  we  save  the  futiu-e  manhood  of  the  country ; 
and,  if  we  save  the  manhood,  we  save  the  womanhood  along  with  it. 

Himdi-eds  of  written  testimonies  have  been  received  from  clergymen 
and  superintendents  in  all  parts  of  the  counti-y  expressing  warmest 
fiympathy  with  the  Brigade  movement,  and  high  appi-eciation  of  the  good 
ihat  is  being  effected  through  its  agency,  not  only  upon  the  boys  em-olled 
in  its  ranks,  but,  through  their  influence  and  example,  upon  tlie  schools 
generally  with  wliich  the  companies  are  connected,  while  many  are  led 
to  express  a  wish  that  the  day  may  not  be  far  distant  when  every  Sun- 
.day  school  in  the  land  may  have,  as  part  of  its  machinery,  a  fully- 
.equipped  company  of  the  Bojs'  Brigade. 

The  one  objection  that  we  hear  lu-ged  against  the  Boys'  Brigade  is 
■that  it  is  calculated  to  develop  a  fighting  spu-it  among  the  boys.  I 
would  say  at  once,  without  fear  of  coutrachction,  that,  however  much 
there  may  appear  to  be  in  this  objection  in  theory,  it  has  no  weight 
whatever  when  submitted  to  the  test  of  practice.  The  Boys'  Brigade, 
wherever  it  has  been  fau'ly  tried  and  firmly  held,  has  developed  a  spu'it 
of  brotherly  kindness  among  the  boys,  a  spiiit  of  self-forgetfulness  which 
■     -  s 


258  Management  of  Simday  Scltools. 

makes  a  boy  wOliug  to  sink  his  owu  mdividual  mterests  in  the  interests 
of  Lis  company,  aud  a  spu'it  of  courtesi/  and  2^ollteHeiss  towards  Ids 
officers  and  Ids  teachers.  It  gives  liLoi  a  manly  uprightness  of  carriage 
which  enables  him  to  look  the  world  in  the  face,  and  which  cannot  but 
have  an  influence  far  beyond  the  mere  physical  effect.  And,  over  and 
above  all  this,  we  ai*e  receiving  constant  testimony  fi-om  all  parts  of  the 
country  that  the  Brigade  is  being  made  the  means,  in  God's  hands,  of 
attaLning  the  highest  end  afc  which  it  aims,  and  leading  many  of  the 
15,000  boys  em-olled  in  its  ranks  to  bear  themselves  manfuUy  in  the 
battle  of  life,  and  to  array  themselves  on  the  side  of  goodness  aud  of 
God,  as  true  soldiers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

A  clergyman  in  the  south  of  England,  himself  the  captam  of  his  coiu- 
pany,  writes  as  follows :  "  Let  Chi-istian  young  men  give  themselves 
heai-t  and  soul  to  this  work,  and  they  wUl  soon  discover,  as  I  have  done, 
that  they  stand  at  the  very  hfe-spriags  of  society,  with  power  to  sweeten 
them  as  they  flow  forth,  either  to  fertilize  or  bhglit  the  earlli." 

BANDS   OF  HOPE. 

.By  Chabies  Wakelt  {General  Secretary  of  the  TJiiUed  Kinydom 
Band  of  Sope  Union) . 

(This  paper  was  taken  as  read.) 

The  story  of  the  origm  of  the  Sunday  school  has  its  counterpart  in 
that  of  the  Band  of  Hope.  Robert  Baikes,  touched  by  the  needs  of 
the  street  childi-en  of  Gloucester,  provided  a  means  of  rescue  from  a  hfe 
of  misery  and  vice  by  foimding  the  Simday  school.  The  Bev.  Jabez 
Timnicliff,  of  Leeds,  called  to  the  deathbed  of  a  young  man,  formerly  a 
Sunday  school  teacher,  but  now  dying  a  drunkard,  was  moved  vrith 
the  same  compassion,  and  with  an  earnest  desu-e  to  save  the  chUdi-en 
in  his  own  Sunday  school,  and  in  the  schools  throughout  the  world, 
fi'om  a  like  sad  fate.  Becognising  that  it  was  easier  to  avoid  the  habit 
of  drinking,  than  to  relinquish  the  habit  when  once  formed,  he 
resolved  to  uistitute  a  society  for  chikh-en  and  yoimg  people,  founded 
upon  the  principle  of  total  abstinence;  and,  by  the  aid  of  Mrs.  Carlile, 
a  good  Christian  lady,  the  movement  was  set  on  foot,  with  the 
singularly  happy  title  of  "  Band  of  Hope." 

The  hope  of  the  founder  of  the  Sabbath  school  movement  has  been 
more  than  realized.  The  good  seed  has  been  sown,  and  produced  abun- 
dant fi-uit  in  upwards  of  6,000,000  of  childi-en  throughout  the  United 
Eingdom  receiving  Christian  instruction.  The  Band  of  Hope  move- 
ment, yoimger,  but  still  stru'dy,  has  also  made  rapid  progress,  and 
shows  a  membership  in  15,000  societies  of  1,800,000  members. 

These  figures,  whilst  fui"nishing,  as  they  do,  much  cause  for  gratitude, 
still  leave  food  for  serious  reflection.  On  the  one  hand  the  Simday 
school  embraces  barely  two-thirds  of  the  juvenile  popidation  of  school 
age;    on  the  other,   only  about  one-third  of  the  childi'en  of  Stmday 


Jldinl.s   (i/  Jiojii'.  v».")i) 

school.s  arc  luimcl  in  JJaiuls  of  ].l.o\w  or  juveuil(3  tempiTimpo  sociotii's, 
ami  tlic  question  arises:  If  drink  is  still  tlio  ])erilons  obstruction  of 
C'ln-istian  endeavour  amongst,  the  younf; :  if  the  use  of  intoxieatinij 
(h'inks  and  the  eorrnptions  of  the  jnibhe-hou.se  do  more  than  any  other 
causes  to  retard  the  work  of  tlie  Sunday  school : — 

1.  WJiij  are  beitceeufour  and  fice  initHons  of  Sinnlai/  xc/ioo/  .schohd-.s 
uiil.iiile  Band  of  Hope  injliieuce  ! 

'1.  Why  are  not  all  Siindai/  school  feachera  idkiifijied  w/.t/i  Band  of 
JIvpe  work  ? 

Must  these  millions  of  young  souls  wander  unwarned  into  the 
Hcdnetive  and  dangerous  path  of  moderation — through  wliich,  it  is  said 

■1'5,000  Sunday  sehohu's  sweep,  yearly,  into  the  vortex  of  uitcniperauec 

or  shall  they  be  restrained  by  self-sacrilicing  tenderness,  and  leil 
through  the  Band  of  Hope,  into  tlie  safe  path  of  total  abstinence — the 
path  of  health  and  happiness  and  peace  ? 

In  the  early  days  the  Band  of  Hope  }uovement  received  scant  sympathy 
fi-om  tlie  authorities  of  the  cluu'ch  or  the  Sunday  school;  the  reason 
probably  being  the  erroneous  ideas,  then  almost  imiversally  entei-tained, 
regarding  the  supposed  advantages  arising  from  a  moderate  use  of 
alcohohc  drinks,  aided  perhaps,  to  some  extent,  by  mistakes  arising 
from  the  inexperience  of  its  early  promoters,  who  belonged,  for  the 
most  part,  to  the  humbler  and  less  educated  classes ;  but  now  the  con- 
dition of  tilings  has  greatly  changed,  and  men  and  women  of  education 
and  culture,  as  well  as  of  Christian  zeal  and  energy,  are  rallying  to  the 
work.  It  presses  upon  the  conscience  of  Christian  teachers  everywhere 
— in  the  pidpit  as  well  as  in  the  school — that  mighty  spiritual  issues 
lire  bound  up  in  the  consideration  of  the  drink  question,  and  all  must 
rejoice  in  the  present  general  hearty  recognition  of  om'  work  as  a 
powerful  auxihary  to  that  of  the  Sunday  school  and  the  church. 

"We  are,  however,  painfully  eonscdous  that  many  who  might  greatly 
advance  the  movement  ai-e  still  standing  aloof,  possibly  from  want  o 
information  as  to  its  objects  and  aims.  For  the  sake  of  such  I  will 
venture  briefly  to  state  what  a  Band  of  Hope  is,  and  what  it  teaches, 
and  submit  a  few  reasons  for  its  support  for  earnest  and  thoughtfid 
consideration. 

1.  The  Band  of  Hope  is  a  society  which  seeks  to  strike  at  the  root  of 
intemperance  by  the  promotion  of  total  abstinence  amongst  the  j'oiuit  ; 
its  motto  being,  "  Prevention  is  better  than  cure." 

2.  The  Bands  of  Hojie  meet  at  regidar  intervals,  weekly  as  a  ride, 
for  about  an  horn-,  the  proceedings  consisting  of  devotional  exercises, 
singing,  recitations,  and  a  brief  address  on  the  advantages  of  total 
abstinence. 

3.  The  age  for  membersliip  differs  in  various  societies,  but  in  most 
Bands  of  Hope  the  members  are  received  at  seven  years  of  age,  and  at 
fom-teen  are  drafted  into  a  senior  society,  where  the  proceedings  are 
adapted  to  their  increased  intelligence  and  altered  habits  of  thought. 

4.  Membei'sliip  is  conditional  upon   giving   a  written  promise  of 

8  2 


260  Management  of  Sunday  SchjoU. 

abstinence,  and  npon  compliance  with  tlic  few  simple  rules  wlilcli 
govern  each  society.  The  declaration  in  general  use  is  the  following : 
"  I  promise  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  all  intoxicating  drints  as 
beveracfes."  Tlie  written  consent  of  at  least  one  parent  or  guardian  is 
necessary  in  the  case  of  children  tmder  fourteen  years  of  age. 

5.  Young  people  may  become  members  without  payment,  but  the 
usual  course  is  to  pay  a  weekly  contribiition  of  one  half-penny.  In 
most  cases  members  receive  a  monthly  temperance  magazine,  and  free 
admission  to  the  entertainments,  tea  meetings,  etc,  which  arc  held 
from  time  to  time. 

6.  The  teaching  of  the  Band  of  Hope  is  grounded  on  the  principles 
of  rehgion,  morality,  and  science.  The  children's  interest  is  from  week 
to  week  sustained  by  various  means,  such  as  object  lessons,  dissolving 
views,  chemical  experiments,  and  physiological  charts ;  A\'hilst  every 
possible  effort  is  made  to  render  the  whole  proccediiigs  bright  and 
attracti^^e. 

Whilst  the  conduct  of  the  Band  of  Hope  is  much  the  same  as 
that  of  the  Sunday  school — a  religious  tone  pervading  the  w  hole  of  its 
engagements — the  central  aim  is  to  make  the  children  thoroughly 
intellio'ent  as  to  the  natiire  and  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks.  They  arc 
taught : — 

1.  That   all  the  wants    of  man,  physical,   intellectual,   and   moral, 

mav  be  satisfied  without  the  use  of  strong  drink ;  and  that 
health  is  improved,  work  better  done,  and  life  prolonged,  by 
abstinence. 

2.  That  alcohol  is  useless  as  a  food  or  as  a  source  of  strength  ;  that 

its  action  is  of  tlie  natm-e  of  a  braui  poison  ;  that  it  influences 
the  baser  passions,  and  develops  an  ever-increasing  appetite 
for  itself,  wliicli  is  dangerous  to  life,  destructive  of  health  of 
body,  and  fatal  to  peace  of  mind. 

3.  That  the  use  of  strong  drink  fills  workhouses,  hospitals,  lunatio 

asylums,  and  prisons,  with  thousands  of  victims,  and  that  it 
is  responsible  for  most  of  the  poverty  and  crime  and  wretched- 
ness of  the  country. 
Possibly  this  teaching — although  supported  by  the  highest  medical 
testimony,  and  by  the  experience  of  those  who  have  lived  the  longest  and 
laboured  the  most — is  new  to  many  whom  these  words  may  reach ;  but 
if  these  things  be  true — and  they  are — how  they  point  to  drink  as  the 
great  foe  to  spiritual  life,  and  therefore  the  deadly  enemy  of  the  Sunday 
school ;  and  how  they  bring  mto  deep  relief  the  solemn  responsibihty  of 
all  engaged  in  the  trauruig  of  the  young ! 

Teachers,  have  you  ever  thought  of  those  childi-en — of  whom  there 
are  so  many  in  every  large  Sunday  school — who  are  the  victims  of  an 
hereditary  craving  for  alcohol,  transmitted  by  intemperate  parents  ? 
Thei'e  may  be  a  boy  in  your  class  with  this  awful  tendency — unconscious 
of  it  weak  in  body,  weak  in  moral  power  and  disciphne,  and  cm'sed  by 
a  pernicious  home  example.    Can  you  accept  the  responsibihty  of  saying 


Bauds  of  Hope.  261 

to  that  boy,  "  Strong  drink  is  a  good  creature  of  God,  to  be  used  and 
not  abused ; "  or  will  you  tell  him,  as  Solomon  tells  him,  that  there 
is  a  biting  stinging  serpent  in  the  glass  ?  That  bright-eyed  girl  by 
your  side,  whose  heart  is  warm,  and  whose  nature  is  noble  and  ini- 
IJidsive,  will  you  let  her  enter  the  world  untaught  as  to  the  perils  and 
fascinations  of  the  wine  cup  ?  If  she  inherits  or  acquires  the  fatal 
appetite,  thmk  of  her  as  she  grows  into  womanhood,  conscious  perhaps 
of  her  weakness,  struggling  fitfully  against  it,  and  at  last  yielding  to 
the  sin  and  shame  of  inebriety,  and  sinking  to  the  degradation  of  a 
drunkard's  life,  and  the  horrors  of  a  drunkard's  death,  and  possibly 
transmitting  to  other  young  lives  the  evil  Avhich  has  cursed  her 
own. 

These  are  not  fancy  pictm-cs,  but  gi'im,  stalking,  hideous  realities, 
confronting  us  by  thousands  on  every  hand,  and  emphasized  by  the 
appalling  fact,  revealed  by  gaol  governors  and  chaplains,  that  a 
frightfiU  percentage  of  criminals  of  both  sexes  have  had  the  advantage 
of  Sunday  school  training. 

1.  A  few  years  since,  the  Rev.  J.  Bagshaw,  jM.A.,  chaplain  of  the 
Salford  New  Bailey  prison,  stated  that,  of  1,050  convict  boys  admitted 
into  his  prison  school,  dming  a  little  more  than  seven  years,  977  had 
attended  Sunday  schools. 

2.  Mr.  Paige,  the  governor  of  Leeds  gaol,  stated  that,  of  299 
criminals,  196  had  been  in  Sunday  school  over  three  years,  and  that 
thirty  of  this  number  had  been  Smiday  school  teachers. 

To  show  the  bearing  of  di'ink  upon  these  fearful  lapses,  pcmiit  me  to 
cite  the  following  : — 

1.  Of  569  prisoners  in  Ediubm-gh  gaol,  40S  had  been  ensnared  by 
drink,  and  398 — all  except  10  1 — had  passed  through  the  Sunday 
school. 

2.  Mr.  Logan,  of  Glasgow,  asked  the  question,  "  How  did  you  get 
here  ?  "  of  sixty-two  cruninals,  all  of  whom  had  been  Sunday  scholai-s, 
triod  at  the  Glaagow  assizes.  Pifty-nine  of  tliem  answered,  "  Drinking, 
and  pubhc-house  company." 

3.  Of  forty-six  scholars  once  belonging  to  the  vesti-y  class  of  Sia-rey 
cliapel,  in  the  time  of  the  Kev.  James  Sherman,  the  teacher  learned 
that  twenty-two  had  become  dinmkards,  thirteen  were  steady,  and  the 
career  of  the  rest  was  unknown. 

4.  The  most  appalling  statement  of  all  is  one  recently  made  in  the 
"Clu'istian  World  Pulpit"  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Bardsley,  of  Man- 
cliester,  stating  that  a  Sunday  school  superintendent  endeavouring  to 
trace  the  liistory  of  100  Sunday  scholars  fomid  77,  of  whom  39  were 
eonfimied  drunkards  ! 

The  statement  of  Mr.  T.  B.  Smithies  regarding  a  gaol  visit  is  a  key 
to  the  above  distressful  figures.  Fifteen  out  of  seventeen  criminals  were 
Sunday  scholars,  and  of  these  ten  were  to  be  transported  for  crimes 
committed  imder  drink,  and  then-  complamt  in  answer  to  an  enquuy 
was  that  '•'  tliej/  had  never  been  warned  as  to  the  danr/er  ofdriiikinj." 


262  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

^  IHow  long  will  the  Sunday  school  with  its  glorious  power  of  tleye- 
lopmg  the  possibilities  within  the  hearts  of  our  boys  and  girls,  have  its 
noble  ^\-ork  crippled  and  its  efforts  frustrated  by  this  deadhest  of  evil 
influences  ?  Would  that  all  oiu*  teachers  could  realize  the  duty  not 
only  of  exhortmg  to  repentance,  acceptance  of  the  Saviour  and  a 
godly  life,  but  of  warning  their  chilch-en  against  the  specific  evil  of 
intemperance,  an  evil  which  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  is  di-aining 
the  chiu'ches  of  their  very  life-blood,  begi\iling  oiu*  scholars  into 
shame  and  infamy,  and  withering  our  brightest  hopes. 

In  view,  therefore,  of  the  awfid  and  ever  present  nature  of  the  evil 
that  confi'onts  us,  I  would  earnestly  plead  with  Sunday  school 
teachers  to  realize  their  duty  and  their  privilege,  and  to  lose  no  oppor- 
tunity of  implanting  temperance  principles  in  the  heai-ts  of  the  youug. 
This  cannot  be  better  done  than  by  means  of  the  Band  of  Hope,  for, 
valuable  as  incidental  temperance  teaching  may  be  in  the  Sunday 
school  class  or  from  the  pulpit,  the  struggle  against  this  monster 
evil  requu'es  the  efforts  of  a  separate  organization.  A  f  oi'ther  advantage 
of  a  separate  society  is  found  in  the  fact  that,  if  adequate  temperance 
teaching  is  to  be  given  durmg  the  orcUnary  Sunday  school  lessons, 
the  time  devoted  to  the  more  directly  spiritual  instruction  will  be 
seriously  cm-tailed.  "VVe  would  thei'efore  lu-ge  the  estabhshment  of  a 
Baud  of  Hope  in  connection  with  every  Sunday  school,  and  that  every 
scholar  should  be  affectionately  invited  to  enter  the  circle  of  safety 
which  it  affords. 

Permit  me  now  to  pomt  out  in  what  ways  the  Band  of  Hope  is 
foiuid  to  be  a  valuable  aiixiliai-y  to  the  Sunday  school. 

1.  £^  increasinrj  the  number  of  scholars.  Childi'en  not  in  atten- 
dance at  a  Sunday  school  will  often  find  then-  way  to  a  Band  of  Hope 
meeting  :  will  there  form  friendships  with  conductors  and  members, 
and  be  led  to  renew  on  the  Sunday  the  pleasant  associations  formed 
dtu"ing  the  week.  It  siu'ely  is  a  master-stroke  of  Christian  pohcy  to 
lead  the  cliildren  of  a  neighboiu'hood  thi'ough  the  Band  of  Hope  into 
the  Sunday  school — through  the  better  to  the  best. 

2.  By  helijing  to  retain  the  elder  memhers.  The  question  how  to 
retain  our  senior  scholars  is  a  serious  one,  and  it  is  in  part  answered 
by  the  Band  of  Hope.  The  services  of  these  scholars  can  be  utihzed  in 
the  Band  of  Hope  in  such  a  wp.y  as  will  increase  their  interest  in  the 
school  generally,  and  make  them  desirous  of  its  success.  Moreover, 
the  aim  of  the  Band  of  Hojoe  is  especially  to  fortify  the  young  people 
against  those  seductive  temptations  to  which  they  will  be  inevitably 
exposed  when  they  go  into  business  life,  and  which,  if  allowed  to 
prevail,  will  certainly  issue  in  theh'  estrangement,  not  only  from  the 
Sunday  school,  but  fi'om  every  good  and  holy  influence. 

3.  £i/  furnishing  a  counteraction  to  dangerous  tveeJc-dai/  influences. 
There  is  now  an  increasingly  general  agreement  amongst  Christian 
people  that  week-evening  instruction  and  entertainment  must  be  found 
for  the  children  if  the  work  of  the  Sunday  school  is  to  be  maintained. 


Bands  of  Hope. 


263 


To  counteract  the  influences  of  the  world,  the  church  must  supply 
liealthy  recreation,  amusement,  and  instruction,  and  these  a  well 
organized  Band  of  Hope  is  eminently  quaUfied  to  give. 

4.  Bi/  (jloing  teachers  a  xueelc-day  ojiporhmlty  of  meetlncj  their 
scholars.  It  is  a  common  lamentation  of  teachers  that,  only  meeting 
the  ehUdreu  for  a  short  time  on  the  Sunday,  and  being  obliged  to  leave 
them  to  other  and  perha])s  baneful  influences  dm-mg  the  -vveek,  the 
impressions  made  in  the  class  are  soon  effaced.  For  tliis  the  Band  of 
Hope  offers  a  remedy.  At  its  meetings  the  teachers,  under  pleasant 
auspices,  may  rejoin  then*  childi-en  in  the  -vveek,  and  thus  fading 
impressions  may  be  revived,  and  the  Band  of  Hope  made  a  missing  hnk 
in  the  chain  of  Sunday  school  enterprise. 

5.  £i/  making  the  school  a  centre  of  philanthropic  as  well  as  of 
religious  effort.  It  is  helpfid  to  the  Sunday  school  to  have  associated 
with  it  vai-ious  forms  of  philantliropic  effort.  Although  the  highest 
religious  motives  shoidd  sway  oiu*  conduct,  yet  some  of  our  endeavours 
must  necessarily  h.ave  relation  to  the  current  moral  and  social  con- 
ditions of  the  age ;  and  Christian  workers,  however  devout,  must  ever 
keep  this  fact  before  them.  The  Sunday  school  should  encourage  all 
that  is  good  and  wise  and  prudent  in  regard  to  the  things  of  this  hfe, 
and  shoi.dd  for  this  purpose  utilize  the  soUd  practical  teaching  which 
the  Band  of  Hope  affords. 

6.  £g  strengthening  the  membership  of  the  church.  The  Band  of 
Hope,  by  fortifymg  the  children  against  this  special  foe  to  a  religious 
life,  removes  one  gi'eat,  if  not  the  greatest,  hindi'auce  to  godliness,  and 
by  teaching  the  cliddreu  that  reason  and  principle  rather  than  appetite 
should  be  then*  I'lde  of  actiouj  prepares  them  for  the  reception  of 
gospel  truth.  This  view  will  be  supported  by  the  following  statistics 
taken  fi'om  a  valuable  paper  by  the  late  Mi\  Isaac  Phillips,  read  at  a 
conference  of  the  Bradford  Simday  School  Union,  which  embrace 
retm'ns  fi-om  Simday  schools  in  that  boi'ough. 


Schools  wixhottt  Bands  ov  Hope. 


Year. 

No.  of 

No.  of 

Joined  the 

Per 

Schools. 

Scholars. 

church. 

1,000. 

1S71 

17 

4,976 

21 

4i 

1S72 

16 

4,52-1 

36 

SJ 

1S73 

20 

5,422 

68 

122 

1S74 

21 

5.678 

129 

23i 

1S75 

22 

5,999 

94 

15f 

1S76 

22 

6,178 

140 

32,777 

48S 

Or  an  average  per  annum  of  14|  per  1,000. 


264 


Manarjemeiit  of  Sunday  Schools. 


Schools  with  Eands  of  Hope. 


Year. 

No.  of 

No.  of 

Joined  the 

Per 

Schools. 

Scholars. 

churcli. 

1,000. 

1S71 

18 

6,528 

115 

173 

1S72 

21 

7,857 

135 

171 

1873 

20 

7,425 

198 

26f 

1S74 

19 

7,112 

229 

32i 

1S75 

16 

6,047 

198 

32^ 

1S76 

17 

6,420 

327 

51 

41,389 

1,202 

Or  an  average  per  annum  of  29  per  1,000. 

Mr.  Phillips  says:  "It  will  be  seen  that  there  has  been  no  excep- 
tional year,  when  the  schools  having  Bands  of  Hope  have  not  shown 
considerably  greater  results  than  the  schools  having  none,  and  that  the 
average  has  been  about  double.  We  could  have  gone  fiu'ther  back, 
with  a  more  favom-able  comparison  still.  "We  fui'thcr  remark  that  in 
the  schools  having  Eands  of  Hope,  the  greater  number  proportionately 
of  the  scholars  who  do  join  the  church  are  fi'om  the  Band  of  Hope 
section.  We  have  verbal  evidence  from  many  scliools  which  bears  out 
this  statement.  We  have,  however,  detailed  particulars  from  only  one 
(in  Bradford),  which,  as  they  are  to  the  point,  we  beg  to  submit. 
Some  years  ago  the  writer  of  this  paper  fomid,  from  the  use  of  the 
chm'ch  book,  that  in  the  schools  where  he  labom-ed  (Rev.  J.  P. 
Chown's),  m  seven  years  137  scholai-s  joined  the  chiu-ch.  The  scholars 
were  about  equally  divided  between  those  who  abstained  and  those  who 
did  not,  the  latter  havuig  the  preponderance  a  httle.  Of  the  137  who 
became  members  of  the  cluu'ch,  106  were  from  the  Band  of  Hope 
section,  leaving  31  from  an  equal  number,  who  were  not  guarded  by 
abstinence  principles."  That  is  to  say,  the  percentage  of  Band  of  Hoj)e 
childi'en  who  joined  the  chm-ch  was  more  than  three  times  that  of 
the  other  scholars. 

Even  if  it  be  said  that  these  Bradford  schools  are  exceptional,  it'  is 
yet  obvious  that,  after  making  any  reasonable  deductions,  [the  Band 
of  Hope,  when  properly  conducted,  is  an  immense  spiritual  gam  to 
the  schools. 

This  being  so,  why  should  not  all  Sunday  schools  seek  to  avail 
themselves  of  this  additional  spuitual  power  ?  Why  should  not 
every  Sunday  school  teacher  look  upon  it  as  his  duty  and  privilege  to 
help  forward  so  good  a  cause,  and  by  personal  example  encourage  his 
scholars  to  abstain?  With  some,  who  may  have  regarded  alcohohc  stimu» 
lants  as  tiseftil  and  necessary,  a  little  personal  sacrifice  wUl  of  coui-se 
have  to  be  made,  but  "  even  as  Christ  pleased  not  Himself,"  so  He  has 


Bands  of  Hope.  265 

left  us  an  cxanipli"  of  .sfll-di'iiial  wliiili,  iiiuk'r  the  urgenck-s  of  the 
present  time — the  need  of  saving  souls  from  dying,  and  their  bodies 
from  a  living  death — wc  should  strive  humbly  to  follow.  If  we  our- 
selves take  fermented  liquors,  we  give  our  children  an  example  which 
is  full  of  danger ;  but  if  we  adopt  the  principle  of  abstinence,  wo 
exert  an  inlluence  for  good  which  may  make  itself  felt  tlu-oughout  the 
whole  constitution  of  the  Sunday  school  and  the  church. 

The  -work  of  the  Eand  of  Hope  may  be  secured  not  only  by  counsel, 
precept,  and  prayer  in  the  Sunday  school,  but  by  the  following 
means: — 

1.  Bj  placing  temperance  books  in  the  Smiday  school  library. 

2.  Ey  adding  temperance  hj'mns  to  the  Sunday  school  hymn-book. 

3.  By  supplying  tempei-ance  magazines  with  the  school  literature. 

4.  By  giving  temperance  books  occasionally  as  rewards. 

5.  By  giving  occasional  addresses  from  the  desk  on  Bible  abstinence. 

6.  By  arranging  for  periodical  Bible  lessons  on  temperance  in  the 
classes. 

7.  By  keeping  all  excursions  clear  of  public-houses. 

8.  By  introducing  the  temperance  question  at  conferences  and 
district  meetings. 

9.  By  the  introduction,  wherever  possible,  of  unintoxicating  wine  at 
the  Lord's  table. 

Let  it  not  be  said  that  the  Sunday  school,  or  the  cluu-ch,  by  any 
sanctions,  direct  or  indii-ect,  makes  the  path  to  the  vice  of  intemperance 
alluring  and  easy.  Let  us  rather  by  our  prayers,  efforts,  and  example, 
sti-ive  to  sliield  the  cliildren  from  the  gi'ip  of  this  giant  foe,  and  the 
church  and  the  school  from  standing  all  but  powerless  before  the 
master  cvd  of  the  age. 

Teachers,  the  Band  of  Hope  wants  your  earnest  sympathy  and  help ; 
for  whose  opportunities  with  the  young  are  so  gi-eat  as  yours  ?  Do  you 
not,  humanly  speakmg,  hold  the  destinies  of  the  httle  ones  in  yom* 
Imnds  ?  The  hope  of  yoiu-  country — the  hope  of  the  world — is  in  the 
cldldreu.  Theirs  is  the  life-blood  of  the  church,  of  the  nation.  Let  it 
be  yom-  ami  to  keep  its  current  pm-e — free  from  the  corruption  of 
strong  drink. 

May  we  nil  earnestly  seek  to  do  this,  as  in  the  sight  of  om-  great 
Master ;  making  the  best  of  our  gifts  and  opportunities,  and  rising  ever 
to  a  more  thoughtful  recognition  of  the  sacred  trust  committed  to  us. 
Oiu-  time  for  labom*  is  short,  oiu-  powers  Umited,  our  service  incom- 
plete ;  but  we  are  links  in  the  chain  of  God's  instrumcntahty  for 
making  the  world  brighter,  and  happier,  and  holier.  Convinced  that 
to  shield  the  little  ones  from  the  fascmations  of  the  drink  is  one  of  the 
highest  and  noblest  forms  of  Christian  service,  let  us  adopt  the  practice, 
and  spread  the  principles  of  total  abstinence  amongst  our  children  ;  so 
labouring,  that  in  the  last  great  day,  when  the  result  of  all  om-  toi 
shall  be  made  manifest,  we  may  receive  in  om-  Master's  "  Well  done, 
good  and  faithfid  servant,"  our  richest  and  eternal  i-eward. 


2GG  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

DRAWING   ROOM   CLASSES. 

S^  Dr.  J.  H.  Gladstone,  F.E.S.  (London). 

(This  papei'  was  taken  as  read.) 

Of  the  children  in  London  who  are  teclinically  reckoned  of  school  age, 
about  800,000  belong  to  those  classes  which  attend  public  elementary 
schools,  while  130,000  are  considered  to  belong  to  the  middle  and 
upper  classes. 

As  far  as  the  Board  schools  are  concei-ned,  75  per  cent,  of  the 
scholars  in  the  boys'  departments,  and  85  per  cent,  of  those  in  the 
girls',  also  attend  Sunday  schools.  The  proportion  from  the  infants' 
departments  is  probably  not  much  smaller.  The  schools  which  have 
been  established  by  the  various  Clu-istian  churches  no  doubt  fm-nish 
at  least  as  large  a  propertion  of  Sunday  scholars.  Now  the  whole  of 
these  children  are  receiving  reUgious  instruction  in  their  day  schools, 
for  the  most  part  every  day  in  the  week.  This  is  not  only  valuable  in 
itself,  but  it  very  greatly  facihtates  the  sphitual  work  of  their  Sunday 
school  teachers. 

Eut  what  about  the  130,000  children  of  superior  social  position  ? 
These  go  to  very  various  boarding  or  day  schools  or  colleges,  in  which 
there  is  often  no  provision  for  religious  instruction ;  and  where  pro- 
vision does  exist,  it  is  often  very  meagre  and  unsatisfactory.  In  many 
cases  indeed  far  more  care  is  bestowed  upon  the  mythologies  and 
heathen  morality  of  Greece  and  Rome  than  upon  the  life  and  words  of 
Christ.  Now  it  is  exactly  these  children,  whose  religioiis  instruction  at 
school  is  so  defective,  who  have  very  few  opportunities  of  gaining  it 
elsewhere.  But  few  of  them  attend  our  ordinary  Sunday  schools, 
especially  among  the  "upper  ten;"  and  if  they  go  to  chm-ch  the 
ordinary  preaclmig  is  unattractive  and  scarcely  mtelligible  to  them. 

What  can  be  done  to  obviate  this  sad  state  of  things  ?  It  may  be 
rephed  that  social  distinctions  ought  not  to  exist  in  Christian  work. 
Perhaps  so,  but  they  assert  themselves  very  strongly  among  us,  and 
must  be  taken  into  account. 

To  overcome  the  difficulty,  special  services  or  little  sermons  for  the 
childi'cn  of  a  congregation  are  becoming  common.  In  some  of  the 
parishes  of  the  West  end  Sunday  schools  intended  exclusively  for  the 
rich  have  been  started.  Bible  classes  also  are  now  being  carried  on  in 
various  pi-ivate  houses.  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  relate  my  own 
experience  of  these. 

In  the  autiunn  of  1865  I  invited  the  sons  of  my  friends  and  neigh- 
bours to  a  Bible-reading  in  my  dining-room.  Two  came  the  first 
Sunday  afternoon,  but  we  mcreased  i'a]jidly  in  niimbers,  so  that  at  the 
end  of  a  twelvemonth  there  was  an  attendance  of  about  40.  Three 
years  after  that  our  average  attendance  was  still  greater,  and  a  similar 
class  was  started  for  ladies.   Junior  classes  both  for  boys  and  gii'ls  have 


Drawiug  Boom    Chiffsrs.  207 

since  been  in.<til,utccl.  From  the  couimenecuient  to  last  sunnncr,  wlieii 
my  class  was  diseontinucd,  more  than  500  young  fellows  have 
attendetl,  without  reckoning  occasional  visitors.  These  have  come,  not 
only  from  all  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  but  from  India  and  the 
Colonies,  beside  foreigners  from  Switzerland,  France,  Germany, 
Sweden,  Norway,  Hungary,  Italy,  United  States  of  America,  India  and 
Japan. 

Eveiy  Sunday  after  three  o'clock  these  young  people  began  to  stream 
nto  the  rooms — there  were  cordial  shakes  of  the  huud  and  enquiries 
about  matters  of  individual  interest.  A  hymn  was  sung,  followed  by  a 
prayer,  into  which  may  have  been  woven  the  special  reqiurements  of 
any  member  of  the  class,  and  then  the  words  of  Clu-ist,  or  of  some 
propliet  or  apostle,  formed  the  basis  of  an  hoiu-'s  conversation.  Every- 
thing suggestive  of  school  has  been  as  far  as  possible  avoided,  and  by 
flowers,  illustrated  books,  and  other  pretty  tilings,  the  thoughts  of 
religion  have  been  associated  with  a  pleasant  home.  "VAIicn  the  teucli- 
ing  was  over  and  tlie  blessing  of  God  again  sought,  the  young  pcojilc 
have  withdrawn,  excepthig  perhaps  three  or  fom*  boys  previously 
invited  to  remain  for  a  cup  of  tea  and  a  quiet  chat.  This  work  has 
not  been  confined  within  the  hmits  of  Sunday.  The  orduiary  inter- 
com'se  of  life  frequently  brings  together  the  conductors  of  the  classes 
and  some  of  their  scholars,  and  there  is  ample  scope  for  sympathy, 
advice,  or  help. 

One  especial  institution  has  grown  out  of  it  which  may  possibly  be 
worth  considering  by  leaders  of  other  Bible  classes  of  various  kinds- 
In  February  1869  it  seemed  desirable  to  adopt  some  systematic  plan  of 
keeping  up  acquaintance  with  the  geutlemeu  Avho  had  left  the  class, 
pei'haps  to  teach  in  Sunday  schools,  or  to  pursue  their  studies  in 
distant  colleges,  or  to  follow  theu"  professions  in  far-off  parts  of  the 
globe.  "VYc  formed,  therefore,  a  Corps  of  Christian  Aoluuteers,  couslst- 
ing  of  those  who,  "  believing  on  and  loving  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
recognise  it  as  their  duty  to  employ  iu  His  service  such  talents  as  lie 
has  entrusted  them  with."  The  object  is  for  miitual  prayci-,  sympathy> 
advice  or  co-operation,  and  twice  a  year  at  least  it  is  my  duty  to  send 
the  members  a  printed  letter.  An  annual  meeting  is  held,  at  which 
interesting  commimications  arc  read,  and  accounts  of  Christian  work 
are  given  by  those  present.  Occasionally  we  have  meetings  in  the 
drawing-room  for  mutual  encouragement,  or  the  discussion  of  some 
interesting  topic. 

At  the  present  time,  upwards  of  200  gentlemen  belong  to  this  corps, 
and  they  are  scattered  over  all  parts  of  the  world,  from  the  backwoods 
of  Canada  to  China,  and  from  Scandinavia  to  New  Zealand.  They 
include  16  clergvmcn  of  the  Church  of  England  and  6  ministers  of 
other  dcnommations,  23  medical  men  or  students,  9  lawyei's,  9  officers 
ill  the  army,  8  artists,  and  17  professionally  scientific  men.  Many  of 
these  are  in  important  positions  in  life,  and  a  large  proportion  abo  are 
dh'cctlv  enframed  in  some  Christian  v.ork. 


2G8  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

A  somewhat  similar  band  has  been  formed  among  the  members  of 
the  ladies  class. 

Tlie  necessity  for  these  Sunday  classes  for  the  rich  is  not  confined  to 
London,  but  exists  in  other  parts  of  Great  Britain.  But  it  is  not  so 
urgent  in  the  North,  whQe  in  Wales  and  Ireland  all  classes  attend  the 
Sunday  schools,  as  they  do  in  America  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
Continent. 

There  need  be  no  difficulty  in  finding  teachers  for  classes  Uke  that 
described  above.  Many  earnest-minded  men  and  women  of  good 
position  become  Smiday  school  teachers.  They  have  thus  qualified 
themselves  for  this  new  work,  and  would  be  especially  fitted  for  it 
when  they  marry  and  have  good  houses  of  theu'  own.  Some  may  be 
induced  to  enter  tipon  this  work  by  the  thought  that  it  is  the  vei-y 
luxury  of  teachmg  ;  there  is  no  necessity  to  leave  home,  no  distraction 
from  other  classes,  no  cutting  short  of  an  appeal  or  illustration  by  the 
superintendent's  bell,  no  necessity  of  adapting  themselves  to  the  mode 
of  thinking  of  a  ditferent  stratum  of  society. 

I  feel  sure  that  the  matter  need  only  be  brought  fairly  forward,  to 
induce  many  to  enter  upon  a  field  of  labour  that  Ues  so  near  to  them, 
and  promises  so  abundant  a  harvest  among  those  who,  by  force  of 
then'  favourable  cu'cumstauces,  are  likely  to  exert  a  wide  influence  in 
the  future. 


(     269     ) 


THIRD  DAY— NINTH  SESSION. 

TnUBSDAY   EvENXNOj   JoLY   4. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

The  President,  Mr.  F.  F.  Belset,  iu  opening  the  proceedings,  said : 
The  first  paper  to-night,  on  the  mauagemeut  of  Sunday  schools,  and 
beai'ing  particularly  on  the  Memorising  of  the  Lesson,  was  to  have  been 
read  by  Mr.  F.  A.  Laing,  of  Glasgow,  who  will  himself  explain  why 
the  paper  instead  of  being  read  to-night  will  be  printed  in  the  report 
of  the  Convention.  We  shall  all,  I  am  sure,  be  delighted  to  welcome 
him  as  the  representative  of  our  friends  in  Scotland. 

Mr.  Laing,  after  briefly  referring  to  the  enthusiasm  which  charac- 
terised Siuiday  school  teachuig  m  Scotland,  proceeded  to  explain  that 
as  the  matters  discussed  in  liis  paper  had  already  been  frequently 
referred  to  by  preceding  speakers,  it  had  been  thought  the  more  advisable 
course  to  hold  the  paper  as  read. 

MEMOEISING   THE   LESSON. 
By  Me.  F.  A.  Laing  {Glasgoio). 

The  word  "  memorise  "  is  a  new  one,  to  me  at  least,  and  I  have  some 
difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  exact  meaning  it  is  intended  to  bear.  If 
it  means  committmg  the  lesson  to  memory  in  the  ordinary  sense,  my 
plan  would  be  to  discourse  on  the  memory  itself,  and  to  point  to  those 
processes  of  teaching  best  adapted  to  its  operations.  If,  however 
memorising  means,  as  I  assume  it  to  mean,  the  making  of  a  lesson 
memorable,  the  lifting  of  it  from  the  outer  courts  of  Memory's  temple 
into  the  holier  place,  where,  by  the  gracious  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
it  may  influence  the  life  and  character  of  the  cliild,  then  I  should  have 
to  describe  all  that  is  most  inaportant  in  the  work  of  Sunday  school 
teaching.  I  cannot  ventui'e  to  undertake  to  do  justice  to  so  vast  a 
subject  in  the  time  at  my  disposal.  I  propose,  therefore,  merely  to 
offer  a  few  observations,  wliich  a  long  experience  enables  me  to  place 
before  you. 

In  connection  vrith  most  of  om'  great  lesson  schemes,"  golden"  texts  are 
prescribed,  which  the  scholar  is  intended  to  commit  to  memory.  How 
this  duty  is  caiTied  out  by  om*  brethren  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean 


liTO  DiancKfcment  of  iSitndaii  iSchioh, 

T  have  no  mL-iinsof  knowing  ;  but,  amongst  oxirsclves,  there  is  too  much 
reason  to  behove  that  it  does  not  receive  that  attention  Avhich  is  its 
due.     \cv\  ol'teu  each  child  is  required  in  turn  to  sdi/  tlie  verse  m  a 
liurricd  \va\-  so  as  to   get  more  quickly  to  the  lesson,  and  no  further 
reference  is  made  to  it.     In  such  cases  (he  memorising  has  been  for 
the  most   part  valueless.      The  mere  memory  is    not  an    intellectual 
iacidty,  but  simply   a  power  which  we  possess   in   eounuou  Avith   the 
lower  animals.   Some  chilch'en  have  this  power  more  strongly  de^■eloped 
than  others.     It  gives  them  no  trouble  to  learn  ;  others,  again,  struggle 
OA'en  unto  tears,  ui  their  endeavour  to  remember.     In  the  former  ease, 
experience  teaches  us  that  what  is  too  easily  learnt  is  often  as  easilv 
forgotten ;  and,   in    the  latter,    we    as   frequently    find    that  the  slow- 
children  not  only  memorise  the  lesson,  but  the  disagreeable  associations 
connected  with  its  preparation.     I  myself,  after  more  than  forty  years, 
can  scarcely  rid  myself  of  the  repugnance  with  which,  after  a  day  of 
misery,  I  associate  the  memorising  of  the  answer  in  oiu'  Catechism  to 
the  question  "  What  is  effectual  calling  ?  "     It  wiU  be  seen,  therefore, 
that  when  our  teachers  simply  hear  a  test  repeated  they  are  hearing 
what  may  have  cost  little  trouble  and  may  be   followed  with  httle 
benefit ;  or  they  may  be  listening  to  a  text  which  has  caused  much 
trouble  to  the  learner.    Now  texts  are  precious  things,  and  there  should 
be  no  risk  of  their  loss.     They  are  the  words  of  God,  and  they  should 
not  be  associated  with  human  weakness  in  this  matter  of  memorising. 
If  the  texts  are  to  be  rightly  retamed  by  the  scholar,  they  must  be 
lifted  out  of  what  Mr.  Fitch  calls  the  "  verbal  memory,"  and  become 
the  possession  of  the  "  rational  memory."     The  verbal  memory  is  tried 
sorely  enough  to  meet  the  educational  demands  which  recent  laws  now 
make  upon  it,  and  hence  no  unnecessary  burden  should  be  imposed  by 
the  Siuiday  school  teacher.      I  suggest  to  you  a  better  way  in  the 
matter  of  text-leai-ning  at  least.    The  golden  text  is  usually  a  siimmary, 
or   the   expression  in  a   condensed  form,  of  the  truths  or  principles 
contained  in  the  lesson  of  the  day.     Let  the  lesson  be  given  first,  with 
all  the  light  wliich  pictm-e,  story,  or  illustration  can  shed  upon  it ;  and, 
after  that,  let  the  text  be  read  simidtaneously  by  the  chilch-en,  repeated 
in  like  manner  with  the  book  closed,  and  then  individually.     In  this 
way   the  "  rational  memory "  will  be  reached,  and  the  truth  wiQ  be 
retained  better,  and  in  a  happier  and  more  successful  way  than  by  the 
common  plan.     In  tliis  way  the  texts  vrill  be  locked  in  a  safe  treasru'e- 
house,  and  wiU  be  no  longer  thi'own  carelessly  on   the  floor,  so  to 
speak,   of  the  outer  memoi-y,  whence  they  may  be  stolen  away  the 
moment  the  boy  leaves  the  schooh'oom,  or  left  lying  tiU  some  chance 
experience  of  matiu-e  years  may  at  length  reveal  the  value  of  them.     In 
this  way  the  precious  words  of  Scripture  will  be  ever  at  hand  to  bring 
ovu'  childi'en   nearer   to   the  Cross,  to  comfort  them  in  affhction,  to 
encom-age  them  when  they  are  down-hearted,  and  to  whisper  to  them 
words   of  hope  and  joy  when  they  are   entermg    the   valley  of  the 
shadows. 


]\{l'll(Oll.silli/     llir    J.rnsini.  271 

1  li,i\c  iu'.\(  to  (li'iil  with  Ihc  iiii'iiiurisiiifi  ol'  llic  li'ssoii  oT  llicda^. 
Ill  till'  tide  1)1'  tlio  hiihji'il,  allolU'il  iiic,  it  is  iiof  siiccilicd  to  wliom  (lie 
lesson  is  to  bf  iiK'uuirist'd,  wliolluT  to  priiiian  classes,  iiiU'ruiediate  or 
senior.  .1  am,  (liercibre,  left  to  s^jeak  generally  (jf  the  eouditions  under 
vvhieh  the  memory  may  be  sueeessl'idly  dealt  with,  and  the  methods 
best  adapted  to  this  end. 

Jursit,  then,  as  to  the  oiuidiiiuus. 


AN   E.lKNEsT   DESIUE    TO  rNSTKUCT   OX  THE    I'AKT   OK   TKE   TEACltEK, 
A\T)  AN  EARNEST  DESIHE  TO  LKAKX  ON  THE  I'AET  OE  THE  I'l'l'IL 

is  the  condition  ol"  things  most  satisfactory  for  the  end  in  view.  Alas, 
liowever,  such  a  happy  eombination  is  a  rare  experience.  Happily,  it  i 
not  an  impossible  one ;  earnestness  begets  earnestness,  as  love  gives 
bu'th  to  love,  and  faith  and  prayer  wLU  do  the  rest.  I  do  not  deny  that 
tlie  memory  wUl  grasp  much  that  is  vividly  presented  by  a  teaclier 
whose  earnestness  is  merely  simidated,  but  the  moral  force  of  it  is  so 
slight  that  no  strong  impression  will  endure.  The  pretty  figm-e  painted 
on  a  bit  of  earthenware  is  easily  effaced  if  it  be  not  submitted  to  the 
strong  fire  of  the  kiln.  It  is  even  so  with  a  lesson  on  the  memory  of  a 
child  in  the  Sunday  school.  It  matters  not  how  brightly  the  lesson 
may  have  been  given  ;  to  make  it  lasting,  to  make  it  influential  on  life 
and  character,  it  requii-es  the  warm  glow  of  earnestness  and  love. 
Childi'en  are  quick  to  feel  true  love,  and  imder  its  influence  open  as 
flowers  to  the  smi.  The  teacher  benchng  heart  and  soul  to  bring  the 
little  ones  to  the  Saviour,  I  hold  to  be  the  indispensable  condition  of 
successful  memorising. 
I^'ow,  as  to 

HETHODS   OF  WORKING, 

it  is  scaveely  necessary  that  I  sh(iidd  enumerate  the  varioiis  de\-iccs 
whicli  the  nineteenth  century  has  contrived  for  the  purpose  of  reaching 
the  memory.  The  eye — that  wondrous  i^hotographic  apparatus  by 
means  of  which  so  many  pictiu-es  are  being  daily  and  hom-ly  transferred 
to  the  galleries  of  memory,  and  which  till  withhi  the  last  decade  had 
been  much  neglected — has  now  been  recognised  as  an  important  factor 
in  our  work. 

A  pictm-e  photographed  by  the  eye  and  phonogra)5hed  by  the  ear 
cannot  fail  to  make  an  impi*ession,  especially  upon  the  memory  of  httle 
childi-en ;  indeed,  so  valuable  is  such  instruction  now  considered,  that 
what  were  origmally  published  as  mere  hints  and  suggestions  have  now 
been  ampUfied  into  volumes  treating  separately  of  the  various  forms  of 
eye-lessons.  These  may  be  briefly  alluded  to :  "  Object  teaching  pre- 
sents to  the  eye  some  famihar  object,  by  means  of  certam  quahties  of 
which  the  truth  meant  to  be  taught  is  illustrated,"  the  idea  being  that, 
as  this  object  is  frequently  seen  by  the  child,  the  lesson  witli  which  it 
is  associated  will  be  better  memorised  by  repetition.     Text  lessons — 


272  Mana(/oment  of  Sunday  Schools. 

"  break  up  a  text  into  proper  portions  on  the  black-board,  prcminen 
thoughts  and  words  being  printed  indifferent  coloiu-s  and  larger  letters." 
Head  lessons  display  the  principal  points  of  a  lesson  as  they  occur. 
Alliterative  lessons  associate  the  facts  with  a  particular  letter,  thus  : 
Daniel  dared  to  disobey  Darius  :  Dastards  demanded  a  decree  :  Daniel, 
doomed  to  the  den  of  lions,  is  divinely  delivered.  Acrostic  lessons — ■ 
arrange  the  points  of  a  lesson  so  that  then-  initials  shall  express  the 
subject  in  acrostic  form,  as  in  the  lesson  on  the  text-word  "  AVatch," 
of  which  IT  is  made  to  stand  for  words,  A  for  actions,  T  fov  thoughts, 
Cfor  companions,  and  JTfor  heart. 

Most  of  these  eye  lessons  are  given  on  the  black-board,  which  is  also 
useful  for  depictmg  scenes  or  for  map  drawing,  and  for  various  other 
ingenious  contrivances  of  a  similar  character.  As  a  matter  of  experience, 
I  have  found  each  and  all  of  these  devices  very  helpful  in  Sunday  school 
teaching,  and,  were  it  possible,  every  teacher  should  have  a  black-board 
beside  hun,  if  for  no  other  pm-pose  than  that  of  summarising  or  reviewing. 
It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  the  circumstances  of  many 
of  om"  Sunday  schools  make  most  of  the  memorismg  plans  just  adverted 
to  practically  unworkable.  Many  classes  meet  in  one  room,  and  that 
room  often  the  church  itself.  The  introduction  of  objects  is  apt  to 
distract  the  attention  of  the  other  classes,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to 
fix  up  black-boards  among  tlie  pews.  There  is  this  consolation,  how- 
ever, for  those  teachers  who  are  so  situated  as  to  be  unable  to  take  full 
advantage  of  the  eye-gate,  that,  whilst  there  is  no  doubt  about  the 
mnemonic  value  of  such  teaching,  it  is  by  no  means  essential  to  the 
successful  memorising  of  a  lesson  in  the  sense  of  making  it  practically 
iiseful.  The  imagination  of  the  scholar  is  always  there  to  work  upon, 
and  through  that  he  may  be  led  to  tliat  higher  knowledge  which  comes 
of  faith  and  not  of  sight.  Pardon  me  if,  before  leaving  this  part  of  my 
subject,  I  throw  out  the  hint  tliat  fine  equipments  ai'e  no  proof  of  the 
success  of  a  Sunday  school. 
Turn  we  now  to  methods  of 


MEMORISING  THEOITGH   THE   EAE. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  the  eye  of  the  pupil  is  ever 
on  the  alert  to  scan  the  looks  and  gestm-es  of  the  teacher.  Frequently 
the  points  of  the  lesson  may  be  indicated  on  the  fingers  as  satisfactorily 
as  on  a  black-board.  Many  of  those  present  have  doubtless  heard  the 
touching  story  of  the  boy  whose  teacher  had  in  this  way  presented  the 
first  five  words  of  the  23rd  Psalm,  "  Tlie  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,"  bring- 
ing out  by  varying  emphases  the  full  meaning  of  those  precious  words. 
Long  afterwards  the  lad  died,  and  the  parents  were  at  a  loss  to 
understand  the  straiige  postm-e  of  the  body,  for  the  dead  fore-finger  of 
the  right  hand  rested  on  the  fourtli  finger  of  the  left.  The  teacher 
alone  could  explain  it.  Grlad  at  heart,  he  told  of  the  old  lesson  in  the 
Sunday  school,  and  was  able  to  translate  the  postiu'e  as  an  assurance 


McnionsliKj  the  Lesson.  278 

that  the  hid  hud  died  beUe\  iiig  tlio  Lord  to  be  his  oheplierd.  Brethren^ 
that  was  a  lesson  memorised. 

It  is  always  iieeessary  that  in  preparin;;  liis  lesson  the  teaehcr  should 
make  an  orderly  arrangement  of  the  leading  features  he  wishes  to  bring 
into  proniinenee.  It  must  not  be  a  hard-and-fast  arrangement,  how- 
ever, sinee  the  answers  of  the  ehihlren  themsehes  often  give  us  short 
cuts  to  the  truth  bysuggcsthig  ideas  which  had  not  ])revionsly  oeeurred 
to  us.  Orderly,  however,  the  arrangement  must  be,  for  liiggledy- 
piggledy  statements  produce  nothing  but  a  blur  on  nicniory's  tablet. 

The  next  point  is  that 

TUK   LANGUAGE   OF   TlIK    XEACUKU 

must  be  adapted  to  suit  the  age  of  the  scholars.  He  must  not  talk  to 
them  of  "evolving  things  from  their  inner  consciousness,"  as  I  re- 
cently heard  a  worthy  clergyman  do  when  addressing  the  children. 
Language  Hke  this  is  Greek  to  them.  It  passes  hi  at  the  one  ear  and 
ont  at  the  other,  withont  leaving  any  impression  behind  it.  Then  tlie 
tone  of  the  teacher  must  be  lively.  Monotony  is  an  oiiiate  to  tlie  ear, 
and  when  the  sense  of  hearing  is  asleep  the  memoiy  becomes  tlie  pla\- 
gi'ound  of  the  imagination. 

General  brightness,  moreover,  will  greatly  accentuate  tlie  gravity  or 
solemnity  of  tone  demanded  for  the  utterance  of  the  more  important 
truths.     Variety  of  tone  helps  greatly  the  lights  and  shadows  of  the 
pictiu'e  transmitted  to  the  memory  through  the  ear.      Let  us  next 
remember  that  the  Sunday  school  teacher  must  not  be  a  preacher. 
There  is  a  strong  tendency  on  the  part  of  the  untrained  or  amateur 
teacher  to  indulge  in  sermonettes.     Now,  we  all  know  how  hard  it  is 
for  the  adult  memoi-y  to  carry  away  much  from  the  sei-mon  ;  how  much 
liarder  must  it  be  for  the  child's !     The  mental  energies  of  the  scliolar 
must  be  kept  in  constant  activity  if  the  lesson  is  to  be  successfully 
memorised.     I  once  saw  a  woman  brought  into  a  hospital.     She  was 
suffering  from  laudanum  poisoning,  and  had  all  but  succumbed  to  the 
fatal  languor  produced  by  the  powerfid  drug.     The  doctors,  however, 
resorted  to  every  effort  to  arouse  her.    They  got  her  to  her  feet,  dragged 
lier  up  and  down,  would  allow  her  not  a  moment's  rest,  but  with  all 
their  might  struggled  for  the  life  which  but  for  their  exertions  would 
speedily  have  been  lost.     Something  of  the  doctor's  feeUng  ought,  we 
thuik,  to  nerve  the  heart  and  brace  the  enei'gies  of  the  Sunday  school 
teacher  when  he  is  questiouing  his  class.     The  sin  poison  is  at  work 
before  his  eyes.     It  is  visible  in  the  listlessness,  the  apathy,  the  tendency 
to  wander.    Let  him  prevent  this  if  he  can,  for  he  is  struggling  for  the 
life,  the  spiritual  life,  of  liia  scholars.     A  rapid  and  constant  course  of 
questioning — not  of  the  vapid  kind,  demanding  hap-hazard  "yes"  or 
"  no  "  for  answers,  but  questioning  that  rouses  the  brain  to  think,  and 
stimulates  the  conscience  to  more  healthy  action — this  will  not  only 
keep  up  attention,  but   is  most  hkely  to   result   in  that   tlioughtful 

T 


274  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

imxiety  about  the  spiiutual  condition  ^vllic■ll  is  the  truest  test  of  suc- 
cessful memorising. 

This  luuch,  tlicDj  as  to  the  luanuer.  Permit  me  to  say  a  few  words 
lis  to 

THE   MAXTEK. 

Ifc  is  well  known  that  the  narrative  form  is  most  attractive  to  the  cliild, 
as  it  is  indeed  to  people  of  all  ages.  A  story,  •whether  from  Scripture 
or  otherwise,  is  siu'e  to  remain  in  the  memory  if  it  be  told  in  an 
interesting  and  dramatic  manner;  but  in  Sunday  school  work,  as 
some  one  has  said,  "it  is  not  worth  while  interesting  children  if  wc 
cannot  at  the  same  time  instruct  them  "  ;  and  it  is  the  instruction  we 
specially  desne  to  memorise  in  association  with  the  story.  Alas,  how- 
ever, is  it  not  a  frequent  experience,  that  as  soon  as  the  narrative  ends 
the  interest  ceases,  and  that  which  we  conceive  to  be  of  the  first  im- 
portance is  listened  to  with  inattentive  ears  ?  To  obviate  this  diOlculty 
it  is  a  good  plan  to  apply  the  points  of  the  story  as  they  occur.  The 
narrative  may  doubtless  lose  something  by  the  adoption  of  this  method, 
but  surely  it  is  better  that  we  should  estabhsh  the  closest  connection 
between  story  and  lesson  rather  than  have  them  appear  as  separate 
things.  If  it  be  impossible  to  do  this,  it  will  be  for  the  teacher,  as  soon 
as  the  story  is  finished,  so  as  if  possible  to  identify  the  cneumstances 
of  the  narrative  with  the  circumstances  of  the  class  or  of  some  individual 
in  it.  In  this  way  a  link  of  connection  will  be  established,  the  attention 
will  be  kept  np,  and  the  mcmoiy  more  powerfully  impressed. 

Frequently,  however,  om*  lessons  take  the  form  of  texts,  or  of  passages 
of  Scriptm'e  in  which  some  important  or  vital  principle  is  set  forth. 
Here  the  work  becomes  more  difficult,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  technique 
of  teaching  more  necessary,  to  secure  the  memorising  of  the  lesson. 
Tliei'e  must  now  be  an  appeal  made  to  the  logical  faculties  of  the  child, 
based  upon  such  knowledge  and  experience  as  the  scholar  himself  pos- 
sesses. To  this  end  the  teacher  must  make  himself  thoi-oughly  at  home 
in  the  ways  of  the  children  he  teaches.  He  must  be  acquainted  with  their 
sources  of  knowledge — then  homes,  their  schools,  their  playground  life. 
The  proper  study  of  the  Smiday  school  teacher  is  his  scholar.  The 
advantage  of  this  m  memorising  a  lesson  is  obvious.  When  words  arc 
to  be  committed  to  memory,  they  must  be  repeated  over  and  over 
until  they  become  fixtures.  When  important  lessons  are  put  into  close 
connection  with  daily  recurring  experiences  of  child-life,  they  are  being 
placed  where  by  the  law  of  association  they  are  likely  to  be  frequently 
recalled  to  the  inemory,  and  to  become  allrmconsciously  imprinted  there. 
This,  as  ah'eady  pointed  out,  is  the  valuable  feature  of  the  object 
lesson,  but  without  its  limitations,  since  we  can  include  experiences 
and  associations  with  many  objects  which  cannot  be  introduced  into 
a  sehooh'oom.  It  would  be  of  veiy  great  importance  if  the  teacher 
had  a  gi'asp,  not  only  of  experiences  common  to  the  whole  class,  but  of 
every  individual  in  it,  for  there  are  constantly  arising  occasions  when 


Mriniii'isiinj   tin:  Lcstmii.  L'T') 

^pl■L■illl  iii'uvidciicc.s  allbrd  .-pocial  oppoi'l unities  lor  luciuorisiiig,  \\liielt 
iio  oanic.-l  tcaclii'i-  will  iiegk-cl.  As  has  been  said,  "The  teacher  must 
learu  the  art  ol'  stretcliiiig  hiuisell",  EHslia-Uko,  y\\wn  every  child  in  his 
class,  so  as  to  warm  it  m  itli  his  own  lil'e." 

One  other  suggestion,  and  I  shall  bring  these  reniariis  to  a.  close. 
If  every  teacher  woiilel  keep  notes  of  the  leading  points  in  the  lessons 
he  teaches,  Sunday  after  Sunday,  and  ra[>idly  glance  over  these  before 
l^roceeding  to  his  class,  he  will  find  niuucrous  opiiortnnitics  of  keeping 
bright  those  memories  which  the  world  docs  so  much  to  cilace — frequent 
opportunities,  by  frequent  hammering,  of  at  length  driving  home  the 
truth  he  so  earnestly  desu-es  to  memorise.  An  excellent  example  of 
memorising  ii  lesson  is  to  be  found  in  a  recently  published  sermon 
to  the  Doys'  Brigade  of  Glasgow,  by  the  Rev.  Professor  Henry 
Drummond,  who  is  a  born  teacher.  It  is  called  a  sermon,  but  in 
reahty  it  was,  both  in  form  and  matter,  a  Sunday  school  lesson  given 
to  a  class  of  2,000  boys.  His  text  Avas,  "  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom 
of  God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added 
unto  you."  This  he  divided  into  thi-ee  heads — Geography,  Ai-ith- 
metic,  and  Grammar.  Such  a  strange  division  aroused  cm-iosity, 
because  it  left  the  beaten  track.  I  thijik  it  was  Beethoven  who  said, 
"  Some  rules  are  made  only  to  show  the  beauty  of  the  exceptions." 
When  curiosity  is  ai-oiised  in  this  way,  the  attention  is  fixed  and  the 
memory  receptive.  The  professor  gradually  opened  up  the  text,  show- 
ing the  Gei)graphy  of  the  Emgdom,  the  Ai-ithmetic  which  made  "  first " 
the  important  point  in  the  search  for  it,  and  the  "  addition  "  of  blessings 
as  the  result  of  finding  it,  and  lastly  the  Grammar  wliich  made  "  seek  " 
a  verb  in  the  imperative  mood,  demanding  instant  attention  and 
obedience.  All  these  lessons  were  illustrated  from  som-ces  common  to 
the  experience  of  all  the  boys — the  street,  the  workshop,  the  cricket- 
field.  Two  or  three  pithy  anecdotes  were  told  to  keep  up  the  interest 
and  drive  home  the  truth,  and,  by  frequent  appeals  to  the  reason  and 
connnon  sense  of  the  boys,  be  was  able  to  awaken  thoughtfulness  as  to 
the  necessity  for  personal  action  in  the  matter  at  issue. 

In  closuig,  let  mo  say,  we  are  often  ready  to  despond  when  we  see 
no  immediate  residt  of  om-  labour,  and  teachers  have  died,  after  years 
of  sowmg,  without  having  seen  any  ingathering  of  fruit.  If,  however, 
only  one  of  the  numerous  lessons  we  have  attempted  to  memorise 
should  remain  chronicled  and  fixed,  so  blessed  are  the  results,  so 
glorious  the  possibihtics,  that  we  shall  not  have  lived  in  vain.  There- 
fore, as  was  once  said  by  the  late  Dr.  James  Hamilton,  let  us  not 
despond.  The  seed  cast  on  the  waters  of  England  may  spring  up  at 
the  foot  of  the  Himalayas  or  iu  the  backwoods  of  Canada,  and  the 
teacher  may  be  resting  from  liis  laboiu's  before  he  kuoAvs  that  the  run- 
away scholar  or  the  prodigal  has  begun  to  follow  liim.  But  faith  and 
prayer  never  fail.  "  In  the  mornuig  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening 
witlihold  not  thine  hand  :  for  thou  knowcst  not  whether  shall  prosper, 
this  or  that,  or  whether  tliev  both  shall  be  aUke  good." 

T  2 


27 G  Mcuiarjcmcnt  of  Sanday  Schools.  \ 

MUSIC  AND  WORSHIP  IN  THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 
13i/  Alteed  H.  Milks  {London). 

Mr.  President,  Ladies,  and  Gentlemen,  I  am  reminded,  by  the 
circumstances  imder  which  I  speak,  of  the  close  relationship  that  has 
always  existed  between  religious  ceremonial  and  what  we  call  the  flue 
arts.  In  the  ancient  days  of  classic  history,  when  every  Olympian 
deity  was  pedestaled  upon  the  streets  of  G-reece,  sculpture  was  the 
favoured  art,  and  marble  gods  and  goddesses  held  sway  o'er  hearts  of 
stone  ;  and  in  that  later  era,  when  the  Early  Church,  passing  through 
vicissitudes  incident  to  youth,  became  inuoculated  with  Roman  influ- 
ences and  caught  the  scarlet  fever,  painting  entered  into  competition 
with  the  sister  art  and  divided  tlie  worship  of  the  people  ;  but,  sir, 
long  before  idolati-y  had  given  birth  to  sculpture,  long  before  the  ape's 
posterity  bad  learned  the  way  to  paint,  music  had  emanated  from  a 
celestial  origin,  for  we  know  that  song  was  born  of  the  pent-up  rapture 
of  heaven,  when  the  climax  of  God's  handiworli  startled  the  spheres 
into  a  psalm,  and  "  the  morning  stars  sang  together,  the  sons  of  God 
shouted  for  joy." 

It  would  be  interesting,  if  this  were  the  time  and  place,  to  trace  the 
progress  of  this  heaven-born  minstrelsy  since  first  she  came  to  dwell 
among  the  sons  of  men.     Por  though  the  cold  notations  of  our  modem 
times  cannot  reveal  to  tis  the  magic  of  that  first  mighty  song,  nor  even 
give  us  once  again  a  single  rhapsody  that  sprang  from  Jubal's  lyre,  yet 
we   know   enough   of    ancient   circumstance   to   demonstrate   affinity 
between  the  old  songs  and  the  new.     We  know  that  music  occupied 
precisely  the  same  position  in  the  habits  of  the  people  in  the  earlier 
ages  as  it  does  with  us  to-day.     It  mom-ned  with  those  who  wept  and 
rejoiced  with  those  who  were  Ught  of  heart.    It  joined  the  festive  glad- 
)iess  of  the  marriage  feast  and  swelled  the  requiem  of  the  imburied  dead. 
It  cheered  the  warrior  with  insph'ing  strains  and  crowned  him  with 
songs  of  victory  ;  and  all  through  the  ages,  whether  on  the  banks  of  the 
Red  Sea,  aroiiud  the  walls  of  Jericho,  amid  the  streets  of  Jerusalem, 
or  upon  the  plains  of  Bethlehem,  in  all  the  gi-eat  epochs  of  the  world's 
progress,  men  and  angels  have  found  in  music  tlie  loftiest  means  for 
the  expression  of  then-  profoundest  emotions.     And  since  the  Christ 
time  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  prophets  have  praised  Him  in  all  the 
ages ;  the  glorious  company  of  the  apostles  have  praised  Hinr  in  aU 
parts  of  the  world  ;  the  noble  army  of  martyrs  has  praised  Him  amid 
all  its  fiery  trials  ;    and  to-day  the  Holy  Church  throughout  all  the 
world  doth  acknowledge  Him  in  song. 

This  then,  at  least,  is  proved  by  the  history  of  the  past,  that  song 
has  been  the  chosen  channel  of  the  highest  aspu-ations  of  the  noblest 
hearts  the  world  has  ever  known  in  the  supreme  hour  of  their  most 
ecstatic  experience. 


Music  and    Worship  in  the  Sniuhtij  School.  277 

Ijtit,  now  lluit  wo  have  looked  upon  (he  inoimtaiii  tops  of  hiunaii 
experience,  and  liavc  seen  in  this  brief  suj-vcy  that  music  is  the  loftiest 
means  for  the  expression  of  man's  supremest  emotions,  let  us  descend 
into  the  valley  a  while  and  examine  ils  application  to  the  Sunday 
school. 

Tlie  subject  of  worship  in  the  Suuday  school  is  of  the  hirrhest  possible 
importance.  If  the  chief  end  of  man  is  "  to  glorify  God  and  enjoy  Him 
for  ever,"  and  vre  have  more  than  the  authoi-ity  of  a  catechism  for  the 
aflu'mation,  worship  becomes  the  supreme  object  of  our  aim,  for  in  wor- 
ship we  have  in  the  highest  possible  degree  the  union  of  God's  glory 
and  man's  enjoyment.  Worship,  then,  is  not  merely  a  means  to  an  end, 
it  is  the  end  itself.  It  is  not  simply  an  element  in  our  religious 
exci'cises,  it  is  that  to  which  all  our  religious  exercises  should  tend.  It 
is  not  only  an  item  in  om*  progi'amme,  it  is  the  climax  of  all  our  work. 
We  employ  magnificent  machineiy.  We  build  splendid  schools.  We 
bring  into  use  every  material  and  mechanical  appliance  that  experience 
suggests  and  art  can  supply.  We  elaborate  schemes  of  teaclung  and 
organize  systems  of  examination.  We  schedule  the  truths  of  God  and 
dole  out  the  principles  of  truth  and  righteousness  by  ride  and  measure. 
But  we  fail  in  all  our  efforts,  if  they  result  not  in  worslup,  for  the  chief 
end  of  man  is  not  a  knowledge  of  the  geogi-aphy  of  Palestine  or  acquaint- 
ance with  the  history  of  the  Jews,  but  "  to  glorify  God  and  enjoy  Him 
for  ever." 

It  may  be  convenient  if  we  proceed  to  consider  the  subject  more  in 
detail  under  the  following  heads  : — 
What  is  worship  ? 

What  are  the  possibilities  of  eliild  worship  ? 

What  is  the  condition  of  worship  in  the  Sunday  school,  and  what 
may  we  do  to  promote  it  ? 
IFJiat  is  worship  i 

There  are,  of  course,  some  who  woi;ld  be  satisfied  with  a  definition  of 
worship  which  would  be  merely  the  substitution  of  another  word  :  they 
would  say  worship  is  praise  ;  others,  again,  woidd  find  the  word  suffi- 
ciently elastic  to  include  all  the  exercises  we  are  accustomed  to  designate 
devotional,  and  woidd  say  worship  is  praise  and  prayer  ;  but  it  is  obvious 
that  such  definitions  are  but  a  descent  from  the  greater  to  the  less,  for, 
•while  worship  undoubtedly  includes  both,  either  may,  and  often  does, 
exist  without  worship. 

Praise  is  a  word  of  very  wide  significance.  It  is  used  as  such  in  the 
sacred  writings,  and  may  with  equal  reason  be  applied  as  such  to-day. 
It  has  no  exclusive  application  to  the  acts  of  man,  and  when  applied  to 
liim  does  not  of  necessity  mean  more  than  when  applied  to  the  other 
works  of  the  gi-eat  Creator.  "  All  Thy  works  praise  Thee,  O  God !" 
says  the  Psalmist,  and  the  words  apply  with  equal  force  to  every  thing 
that  fulfils  the  laws  of  its  beinr/ :  the  sim  that  draws  all  natm-e  towards 
itself ;  the  moon  upon  whose  movements  the  waters  of  the  ocean  wait : 
the  stars  that  move  in  their  courses,  and  the  elements   that  do  lus 


278  Management  of  Sunday  Schools. 

bidding  ;  "Fii'C  and  hail,  snow  and  vapour,  stormy  wind,  fulfilling  His 
word  ;"  the  mountains  that  store  up  earth's  mighty  forces  and  the 
valleys  that  bring  forth  man's  precious  food;  the  bird  that  cleaves  tlio 
air  and  the  fish  that  swims  the  sea ;  the  cattle  iipon  a  thousand  hills 
that  draw  their  life  from  G!-od;  for  He  commanded  and  they  were 
created,  and  they  fulfil  the  purpose  of  His  heart. 

So  each  and  every  creature  of  the  great  Creator  praises  Him  in  the 
wonder  of  its  structure  and  the  fulfilment  of  its  laws  of  being. 

And  so  man  praises  Him,  ascending  by  the  same  steps,  though  rising 
to  loftier  altitudes  and  nearer  view.  He  praises  God  cndomaiicaU//  as 
themountams  do,  in  the  possibilities  that  he  includes  and  the  fulfilment 
of  all  physical  law.  There  is  not  an  exercise  of  his  i'aculties  that  does 
not  praise  the  God  who  created  them  that  they  might  be  exercised,  not 
a  discussion  of  the  laws  of  his  enrironment  that  does  not  praise  the  God 
who  made  those  laws  and  qualified  him  for  then-  apprehension.  Theri; 
is  not  an  application  of  the  laws  of  nattn-e  to  the  purposes  of  man  that 
does  not  praise  the  sole  inventor  of  possibihties,  who  is  also  the  sole 
inspirer  of  om*  iuqnii'ies  and  tlie  sole  enlightencr  of  our  perceptions. 
Philosophy  praises  Him  as  it  reasons  out  the  problems  of  Ufcand  death; 
science  praises  Him  as  it  ranges  trutli  in  systems,  and  art  as  it  displays 
truth  in  all  its  beauty.  Everything  that  God  has  made  Himself  com- 
jplete,  and  everything  that  lie  has  permitted  man  to  finish — the  mighty 
forests  that  wag  their  heads  as  the  breezes  play  amidst  their  solitudes 
and  the  sunbeams  kiss  their  leaves,  and  no  less  the  snorting  steam- 
engine  that  screams  its  way  throiigh  the  blackness  of  the  night — praise 
and  magnify  His  holy  name. 

But  man  is  qualified  for  more  than  flM^o;H«i!/c  praise.  He  praises  God 
si/mpatlietically  as  the  birds  and  the  flowers  do,  when  he  looks  to  Him  for 
food  and  cries  to  Him  in  pain,  in  every  deed  of  kindness  that  He  does 
and  in  every  efibrt  to  promote  the  triumph  of  the  true  and  good.  Eut 
he  can  rise  higher  still.  Gifted  with  intelligence  that  he  cannot  nse 
without  praising,  he  has  witliin  himself  the  power  of  rising  yet  one  step 
more  towards  the  throne  of  God.  With  the  perception  that  God  has 
given  him,  he  sees  in  the  praise  of  nature  a  motive  for  liis  own.  From 
the  wonder  of  God's  physical  creation  he  learns  the  lesson  of  admu-ation, 
from  the  boimtics  of  His  providence  he  deduces  the  duty  of  gratitude, 
he  has  reached  the  platform  of  intelligent  praise,  he  breaks  liis  bread 
with  thanksgiving  and  joins  in  the  doxologies  of  the  saints.  He  has 
risen  to  the  highest  platform  of  mere  praise,  but  he  has  not  yet  learned 
to  loorsldp.  Again,  he  studies  the  revealed  will  of  God,  he  learns  that 
things  seen  are  temporal,  and  that  there  are  things  which  are  unseen  and 
which  are  spuitual  and  eternal.  The  Holy  Spirit  sheds  his  light  upon 
the  sacred  page  and  reveals  to  him  the  way  of  holiness  :  the  dai-kness  of 
ignorance  rolls  away  fi-om  his  eyes,  the  joy  of  salvation  rushes  into  his 
soul,  and,  in  the  exuberance  of  a  new  and  liigher  life,  he  lifts  i^p  lais 
enraptiu-ed  soul  and  worships  God,  for  he  has  learned  that  which  all 
must  lea\-n  before  they  can  worship  God  at  all,  that  "  God  is  a  spirit 


Jir».<t/t'  roid    Worship  in   thf  SiohIcoi  Sdionl.  279 

and  tlioy  (li:it  w()r>liip  Kiiii  iiiiist  worslup  ]Iini  in  spirit  ami  in 
tnilli." 

Our  (U'liuilioii  oC  W()i'slii|),  (Ikmi,  is  spiritual  praise,  and  with  this 
delhiition  in  our  minds  let  us  proceed  to  inquii'e  : — 

MHiat  are  the  posslLililies  of  child  worshq)  f 

\Vc  liave  tho  authority  of  tlie  poet  for  saying  that  "heaven  lies 
about  us  in  oiu"  uifancy,"  and  wo  have  the  authority  of  Jes\is  Cin-ist  for 
saying,  "  Of  such  is  the  Kin,'rdom  of  Ileaven."  God  is  very  near  to 
little  children  ;  and  if  this  be  so,  spiritual  life  cannot  be  very  far  away. 
At  no  time  in  oiu-  lives  are  we  more  susce]5tible  of  impressions  than  in 
childliood  ;  at  no  time  are  we  more  trustfid  in  our  beliefs,  more  sincere 
in  oiU'  emotions,  or  more  genuine  in  our  enthusiasm.  Children  are 
capable  of  very  higli  physical  and  mental  enjoyment ;  wliy  should  it  be 
doubted  that  they  arc  capable  of  enjoyment  of  a  spiritual  kind  ?  Tiie 
spiritual  is  ever  a  nearer  possibility  to  tlio  comparatively  simple  and 
innocent.  The  psalms  that  David  sang  before  the  committal  of 
his  greet  sin  soar  higlier  in  their  imdimmed  splendour,  and  are  far 
more  easy  in  their  flight,  than  those  mingled  bursts  of  penitence  and 
praise  that  belong  to  his  later  years  ;  aiad  if  wo  can  only  influence  aright 
tlie  imaginations  and  sympathies  of  children  before  they  have  become 
contaminated  by  the  evil  tliat  is  round  about  them  wo  shall  find  that 
they  are  not  far  from  the  Kingdom  of  God.  We  shall  learn  that  there 
arc  great  possibilities  in  little  hearts,  and  that  there  is  great  capacity 
in  little  feet.  "We  shall  see  them  leap  to  the  very  top  of  Jacob's  ladder 
while  we  stand  gazing  at  the  foot,  and  as  they  turn  and  look  down  upon 
us  we  shall  see  by  the  light  upon  their  faces  that  they  have  been  with  God. 
"\Ve  have  to  become  as  little  children  before  we  can  enter  the  sphere  of 
worship,  they  are  playing  at  the  very  door.  Om*  worship  is  tainted  by  a 
tliousand  sinful  blemishes  ;  but  "  out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and 
sucklings  God  has  perfected  praise."  We  who  have  travelled  far  into 
the  wilderness  have  to  retrace  our  weary  steps  o'er  moor  and  mountain, 
before  we  can  look  upon  the  City  of  God,  and  when  we  reach  it  we 
find  the  children  have  never  left  the  gate.  I  reniember  some  time  ago 
watching  a  little  boy  of  four  years  of  age  as  he  played  in  his  father's 
garden.  He  was  alone  Avith  nature,  and  knew  not  that  he  was  being 
watched.  It  was  summer  time,  the  sun  was  shining  in  all  its  wonted 
splendour,  and  the  flowers  were  in  full  bloom.  And  as  I  watched  him 
the  little  fellow  ran  the  whole  length  of  the  lawn,  finishing  his  riui 
with  a  leap  into  the  air  and  a  cry  of  rapturous  delight.  He  repeated 
the  same  thing  many  times,  and  evidently  took  the  greatest  dehght 
in  the  exercise.  The  act  was  of  little  meaning  in  itself,  but  I  take 
it  that  it  was  the  spontaneous  expression  of  that  child's  delight  in  the 
exercise  of  his  powers,  siirrounded  by  the  glories  of  the  physical 
world,  and  worship  I  take  to  be  the  spii-itual  analogy  of  this — it  is 
the  spontaneous  outbreak  of  spu'itual  joy  in  the  midst  of  the  sunshine 
of  God's  love.  Such  was  the  worsliip  of  David  as  he  led  the  ark  from 
tlie  house  of  Obed-Edom  to  the  Hill  of  Sion,  when  to  his  frenzied 


280  3[(inaf/emnd  of  Siuiday  Schools. 

imagination  tlic  very  mountains  round  about  liim  seemed  to  leap  for 
the  honour  of  giving  rest  to  tliat  ancient  throne  of  Grod.  Such  lias  been 
the  worship  of  many  a  saint  si:ice  David's  time,  and  that  children  are 
cajiable  of  this  spiritual  joy,  in  their  own  measure  and  degree,  there 
need  not  be  the  slightest  doubt.  It  maj^  not  manifest  itself  in  the  same 
way  as  it  does  with  the  adult  Christian,  but  it  is  none  the  less  i-eal  on 
that  account.     Its  phenomena  may  differ — its  essence  is  the  same. 

Worship  ought  to  be  more  easily  attained  in  the  Sunday  school  than 
in  the  adult  congregation,  and  if  it  is  not  attained  it  is  not  from  any 
want  of  capacity  on  the  children's  part ;  it  is  from  a  faiku-e  of  ways  and 
means. 

Now  we  have  defined  worship  as  spiritual  praise, yve  have  incidentally 
seen  that  throughout  tlie  ages  music  has  been  the  loftiest  means  of  its 
exercise,  and  we  have  demonstrated  childhood's  capacity  for  its  enjoy- 
ment. "With  this  knowledge  let  ns  enter  the  Sunday  school  for  a  few 
moments  and  test  our  present  efficiency  by  the  standards  we  have  thus 
raised.  What  is  the  condition  of  worship  in  the  Sunday  school,  and 
tohat  may  we  do  to  promote  it  1  That  praise  automatic,  sympathetic, 
and  intelligent,  obtains  largely  in  our  Sunday  schools  no  one  will  deny, 
and  that  spiritual  praise,  which  alone  is  worsliip,  exists  to  a  far  larger 
degree  than  is  at  all  obvious,  we  need  not  for  a  moment  doubt.  Still 
the  standard  is  a  high  one,  and  present  attainments  fall  far  short  of 
what  they  might  be,  and  I  feel  that  I  shall  best  occupy  the  remainder 
of  my  time  in  pointing  out  why  this  is,  and  suggesting  means  for  im- 
provement. 

I  am  of  course  speaking  of  my  own  experience  in  Sunday  schools, 
and  that  is  confined  to  the  schools  of  this  country,  and  mainly  to  those 
of  the  city  in  wliich  I  speak,  but  I  feel  that  the  first  reason  of  our  com- 
parative failure  is  that  we  do  not  realize  the  importance  of  the  means  to 
be  employed.  Music  and  the  service  of  praise  generally  is  regarded  as 
an  element  of  variety  in  the  school  routme  certainly,  but  as  the  element 
that  can  be  most  easily  dispensed  with,  and  the  element  which  is  alwavs 
the  first  to  be  sacrificed  when  a  tedious  speaker  has  made  it  more  neces- 
sary that  it  should  be  maintained.  The  songs  of  a  thousand  voices  are 
often  silenced  that  one  voice  may  make  itself  heard.  The  preacher 
often  omits  the  last  song,  but  never  the  last  prayer,  and  yet  praise  is  a 
duty ;  for  every  one  exhortation  to  prayer  that  we  find  in  the  sacred 
writings  we  may  find  many  to  praise,  and  those  who  have  tried  it 
testify  that  they  can  sing  themselves  from  the  valley  to  the  mountain 
top  vastly  quicker  than  they  can  pray  themselves  there. 

In  all  Smaday  schools  an  attempt  at  praise  is  made  at  least  two  or 
three  tunes  in  every  session,  and  yet  is  it  not  true  that  m  many  cases, 
year  after  year  rolls  by  withont  the  least  organized  or  intelligent  efibrt 
being  made  to  teach  the  children  to  smg  with  the  heart  and  with  the 
nnderstandmg  also  ? 

Is  there  any  reason  why  that  part  of  the  service  wliich  is  devoted  to 
the  praise  of  God  shoidd  not  be  as  earnestly  prepared  for  as  that  part 


3[asic  and   Worship  in  the  Sunday  School.  281 

which  is  clcA'oted  io  the  teucliing  of  his  truth?  and  is  there  nny  reusou 
why,  the  duties  and  pleasures,  the  obligations  and  joys  of  praise  and 
worship  should  not  be  more  often  included  in  the  teaching  in  the  class? 
If  Queen  "Victoria  were  coming  into  any  of  our  schools  next  week  we 
shoidd  have  been  practising  "  God  save  the  Queen  "  this  three  months 
past,  though  we  knew  the  tunc  a  year  ago !  But  the  King  of  kings  is 
coming  into  our  schools  next  Sunday  afternoon,  and  we  Khali  offer  Ilinx 
the  slovenly  performauce  of  unpremeditated  song. 

Surely  we  must  pay  much  more  attention  to  organized  and  systematic 
training  for  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary  before  we  can  enter  into  His 
courts  with  intelligent  thanksgiving,  and  come  hofore  Ilim  witli  accep- 
table praise. 

Another  reason  why  results  fall  so  far  short  of  the  possibilities  that 
invite  us,  may  be  fomid  in  the  cluu-acter  of  the  hymns  and  tunes  in 
common  use  at  the  present  time.  I  am  referring  to  no  collection  in 
jjarticular,  but  I  am  naming  the  characteristics  of  most  when  I  say  that 
the  genuine  hymn  of  pi-aise  holds  a  small  and  ever  lessening  place  in 
the  modern  hymn-book.  Doubtless  we  have  made  immense  musical 
progress  during  the  past  fifty  years,  and  we  are  rich  in  the  possessioij 
of  many  beautifully  sympathetic  songs,  but  we  have  gained  refinement 
at  the  expense  of  vigour,  and  there  is  a  manifest  movement  from  the 
higher  platform  of  praise  to  the  lower  platform  of  prayer.  Obviously 
praise  is  a  higher  exercise  than  prayer.  In  prayer  we  ask  Bometliing  of 
God,  in  praise  we  give  him  something.  Prayer  enriches  vis,  but  praise 
adds  to  the  wealth  of  God  and  the  happiness  of  Heaven.  And  yet 
praise  for  its  own  sake  is  untaught,  and  praise  hymns  are  practically 
uusupplied. 

Again,  a  cause  of  failure  will  be  found  in  the  utterly  frivolous  and 
unworthy  character  of  the  tunes  we  so  frequently  use  in  the  Sunday 
school.  I  have  known  some  of  them  to  be  ground  upon  an  oi'gan  for 
a  merry-go-round  at  a  country  fair,  and  the  genius  of  the  music  was 
eminently  adapted  to  the  spirit  of  the  carnival. 

Other  causes  of  failure  will  be  foimd  in  the  thoughtless  manner  in 
which  we  select  our  ill-prepared  hymns  and  tunes.  Are  they  not  oftet. 
chosen  in  the  most  haphazard  fashion,  without  a  thought  as  to  the 
responsibility  we  incur  in  putting  the  words  and  sentiments  into  tlie 
children's  mouths?  How  often  we  tell  the  little  ones  to  sing  hymns 
which  can  have  no  meaning  to  them,  and  in  so  doing  teach  them  to 
take  lightly  on  their  lips  the  mighty  name  of  God ! 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  music  lends  itself  more  readily  than  any 
other  means  to  worship,  and  it  is  small  wonder  after  all  that  when  the 
means  are  so  neglected  the  results  should  be  so  inadequate. 

In  suggestmg  means  for  the  improvement  of  the  service  of  praise  let 
me  point  out  at  once  that  the  spiritual  element  which  alone  can  make 
praise  worship,  is  a  gift  that  cometh  fi-om  on  high,  but  it  is  a  gift  that 
will  surely  follow  the  adoption  of  suitable  means,  for  if  we  will  but 
remove  tJie  obstacles  which  we  have  om-selves  made,  and  employ  the 


282  Manarjemenl  of  Sunday  Seliools. 

means  that  God  has  given  us  for  tlic  purpose,  we  know  that  lie  will  use 
them,  for  he  who  told  us  that  "  God  is  a  spirit,  and  they  that  woi-ship 
Him.  must  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,"  added  also  these  gentle 
and  encouraging  words,  "  the  Pather  sccketh  such  to  worship  Him." 
!Por  our  part  we  mast  elevate  the  standard  of  our  efforts  all  round. 
"We  must  recognise  that  Christian  song  is  a  God-ordaiucd  means  of 
access  to  Himself,  and  as  the  means  which  facilitates  to  the  fullest 
degree  the  union  of  God's  praise  and  our  enjoyment.  We  must 
establish  a  more  direct  connection  between  the  teaching  of  tlie  class  and 
the  exercises  of  the  school.  We  must  have  classes  for  the  teaching  of 
Christian  song  as  well  as  classes  for  the  teaching  of  Bible  truth.  The 
precentor  must  be  as  carefnlly  chosen  as  the  superintendent,  and  the 
singing  class  of  the  scholars  as  heartily  supported  as  the  preparation 
class  of  the  teachers.  We  must  get  rid  of  the  superstition  that  only 
one  instrument,  and  that  of  the  most  sombre  kind,  can  be  acceptable 
in  the  worship  of  God,  and  restore  once  more  the  harp  and  the  trumpet 
to  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  We  must  form  orchestras  as  avcII  as 
choirs  of  om'  senior  scholars,  that  those  who  caiuiot  sing  may  join  in 
making  melody  unto  the  Lord.  We  slioidd  establish  weekly  meetings 
for  musical  drUl,  and  both  assemble  and  dismiss  our  schools  to  the 
strains  of  song.  We  should  revive  the  practice  of  memorising  psalms 
and  hymns,  for  the  truths  they  crystahze  will  live  with  iis  when  all 
prose  lessons  are  forgotten.  We  must  get  rid  of  the  jiiigling  frivolity 
and  sickly  sentimentalism  that  have  so  much  obtained  of  late  and  seek 
for  greater  dignity  in  our  hymns  of  praise,  and  more  devotional  feehng 
in  our  hymns  of  prayer.  We  must  create  a  literature  of  Christian  song 
written  from  a  youthful  standpoint  that  shall  insph-e  the  Sunday  school 
as  the  ehm'ch  is  inspired  by  the  maturer  songs  of  the  sanctuary.  To 
interest  our  scholars  in  the  exercises  we  must  give  them  a  greater  part 
in  them,  and  nothing  will  so  surely  effect  this  as  the  adoption  of 
suitably  arranged  and  properly  conducted  htm-gical  services.  Let  one 
side  of  the  school  exhort  the  other,  and  let  the  other  side  respond. 
Give  litanies  their  proper  place  and  doxologies  their  due  share.  To 
employ  the  children  thus  will  be  not  only  to  interest  but  to  impress 
and  to  inspu'e  them,  and  from  this  impression  and  inspiration  worsliip 
ought  to  follow. 

Music  is  the  purest  thing  thft  lives  iipou  this  earth,  and  the  more  of 
it  we  can  put  into  the  lives  and  habits  of  our  young  people  the  better 
and  happier  they  wdl  be.  It  will  cheer  them  in  lonehness  and  solitude. 
It  will  inspu-e  them  in  difficiilty  and  danger.  It  will  arm  them  against 
temptation.  It  will  sweeten  them  for  companionship.  It  wid  strengthen 
them  for  duty.  The  soldier  on  the  ramparts  can  begude  his  lonely 
watch  with  song,  the  sailor  at  the  masthead  can  cheer  liimself  with 
"  Home,  sweet  Home,"  the  prisoner  in  the  dungeon  can  bring  heaven 
nearer,  and  the  saint  can  wmg  his  way  to  glory  with  a  psalm.  Por,  if  Ave 
accept  it  as  divine  means  of  access  to  heaven,  we  shall  find  it  one  that 
is  always  open,  and  however  stoi'iuy  may  be  our  path  in  life — yea. 


I'Jir   Trarlirr  nu<l.   his  TYrfss.  283 

tliou^li  wo  wnlk  llirou.;,'li  (he  \:\\\vy  of  tlio  Sluulow  of  Doaf li— Diivid's 
gloritms  songsliall  slill  iiispiir  us,  (ill  the  last  licry  ortlcal  acfom)ilishcd, 
llic  last  cai'Lhly  discord  resolved  into  heavenly  harmony,  "  they  come 
vidi  (heir  fiery  chariots  and  their  fiery  fieiy  horses  "  and  -vve  go  on  the 
■whirlwind  to  lieaven. 


THE  TEACriEr.  AND  HIS  CLASS. 
Jii/  Er.v.  A.  J.  ScHAUrFLEE  (2\"c«'  Tori  Cilij,  U.S.A.). 

Mr.  Chairman  and  friends,  there  is  only  one  topic  that  is  of  more 
moment  in  oxu-  Sunday  school  -work  than  tliat  on  which  I  am  to  speak, 
and  that  topic  is  "  The  Superintendent  and  his  Teachers  ;"  but  with 
that  I  cannot  deal  to-night,  (he  two  topics  would  be  too  large  to  deal 
Avith  in  one  night.  I  slmll  eonfine  myself  to  ono  particular  department, 
and  that  is  the  work  which  the  teacher  has  to  do  in  his  class. 

There  is  a  singular  analogy  with  the  photographic  process  and  the 
process  by  which  wc  impress  the  minds  of  our  scholars.  I  hold  in  my 
hand  a  pliotographic  plate,  and  if  rightly  exposed  to  the  light  this  plate 
AA-ill  receive  an  impression,  and  the  impression  will  be  one  of  beauty  or 
of  ugliness  according  to  the  object  presented  before  the  lens.  No  eye 
can  detect  the  impression  that  has  occurred  there  from  the  first,  but  it 
lias  to  be  brought  out  by  development  before  tlie  eye  can  see  what  is 
upon  it. 

However,  that  is  not  the  last  process,  for  after  the  plate  has  been 
developed  then  the  impression  must  be  fixed ;  after  it  has  been  fixed  ou 
any  plate  it  can  then  be  transferred  to  paper  an  innumerable  number  of 
times,  repeating  itself  over  a  thousand  or  a  million  times,  the  original 
impression  ou  the  plate  being  entirely  uninjured.  If  this  plate  be 
exposed  under  wrong  eircurastances  it  would  be  ruined,  and  never  could 
be  restored  to  its  original  condition. 

The  heart  of  a  scholar  is  like  that  plate  in  many  respects.  A  Divhie 
trath  is  held  up  before  the  scholar  and  an  impression  is  made,  and  once 
made  it  is  always  made — infallibly  made.  When  a  Divine  truth  is  pre- 
sented to  a  child  you  may  not  be  able  to  perceive  it ;  it  may  take  years 
to  develop,  but  nevertheless  it  is  on  the  plate  of  the  human  heart :  there 
is  somehow  an  impi'cssion,  it  will  be  developed  by  the  Divine  Spirit  and 
will  become  visible.  By  the  power  of  the  Divine  Spu-it  that  impression 
must  be  fixed,  and  then,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  the  impression 
on  the  human  heart  must  be  trausfen-ed  to  others  with  whom  the  scholar 
is  brought  in  contact. 

Now,  you  will  see  that  if  a  hideous  object  be  held  \ip  before  the  plate 
the  impression  will  be  hideous ;  if  a  beautiful  object,  the  impression 
will  be  beautifid.  In  the  same  way  with  our  scholars,  if  on  the  street 
there  ai-e  hideous  tilings  held  up  to  them — if  crime,  aU  kinds  of  evil,  be 
presented  to  them — theu*  lives  lake  the  impression  of  it  all  and  repro- 
duce it  at  some  future  time.     "Wlieu,  therefore,  we  stand  before  them 


28-1  Mtinagcment  of  Sunday  Schools. 

we  should  remember  that  wo  are  messengers  of  God,  presenting  to  them 
tilings  appertaining  to  om-  Divine  Lord.  Now  that  is  the  blessed  privilege 
for  which  every  teacher  ought  to  rejoice ;  it  is  a  wonderful  power  for 
which  every  teacher  ought  to  give  thanks,  and  in  the  use  of  which  ho 
ought  to  ask  God's  blessing. 

I  desire  particularly  to  draw  yo\u"  attention  to  the  power  of  the 
teacher  in  reaching  through  the  eye  liis  scholars.  There  are  two  con- 
veyances of  approach  to  the  human  mind,  viz.,  the  ear  and  the  eye.  Of 
these  the  eye  is  far  more  rapid  than  the  ear,  and  will  outstrip  the  ear 
in  a  race  ten  to  one.  I  will  explam  tliis.  If  you  should  put  Dr.  Hall 
in  this  pidpit  prepared  with  the  most  magnificent  oration  he  ever 
delivered,  I  would  completely  spoil  all  his  work  and  the  work  of 
Demosthenes  and  Spurgeon  all  rolled  up  together. 

How  would  I  do  it  ?  Why !  by  simply  doing  this.  (Hci-e  the 
speaker  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  proceeded  deUberately  to  roll  it 
much  in  the  same  way  as  the  conjuror  does  when  he  borrows  yovu* 
handkerchief,  and  you  are  not  sure  wlietlier  you  will  ever  see  it  again.) 
Why  if  I  commenced  to  do  this  simple  thing,  every  eye  would  bo 
tm-ned  from  the  speaker  and  fixed  on  me,  and  tlie  people  would  say, 
Why !  what's  he  going  to  do  ?  This  was  well  illustrated  in  the  Sunday 
school  where  I  had  the  privilege  of  being  superintendent  some  years 
ago.  I  was  one  day  addressing  the  scholars,  and  I  noticed  that  they 
were  paying  very  little  attention  to  me,  and  by-and-by  I  found  that  I 
hadn't  a  smgle  scholar  with  me.  I  redoubled  my  efibrts  and  raised 
my  voice,  but  it  was  no  good.  Finally  my  associate  at  the  other  end 
of  the  school  said,  "  It  won't  do,  there  is  too  much  competition  here." 

The  reason  of  it  all  was,  I  fo\md,  that  we  had  had  on  that  day,  for 
the  first  time,  a  cornetist  who  was  just  closing  a  patent  music  stand 
which  he  had  brought  with  him ;  he  was  taking  it  to  pieces  and 
foldin"  up  smaller  and  smaller  one  piece  within  another,  and  the 
scholars  were  looking  eagerly  on  and  wondering  whether  the  thing  was 
gom<^  to  disappear  altogether.  That  man,  you  see,  was  teaching  their 
eyes  ;  I  was  teaching  theu*  ears  ;  he  was  an  express  train,  and  I  was  a 
freight  train.  Now  that  is  enough  to  indicate  the  line  I  wish  to  take 
to-night,  to  show  teachers,  as  far  as  I  can,  how  they  can  use  the  eye  as 
well  as  the  ear.     Some  teachers  wiU  say,  "  Oh !  I  can't." 

Well,  I  have  heard  that  at  Convention  so  often  that  I  am  just  a  bit 
tired  of  it.  You  can  if  you  think  you  can.  You  may  not  be  able  to 
do  it  to-morrow,  but  if  you  persevere  along  the  line  you  will  find  that 
■you  will  by-and-by  be  transformed  fi'om  a  very  didl  teacher  to  a  very 
apt  teacher,  appealing  to  the  inward  imagination  or  to  the  outward  eye 
of  the  class  ;  but  you  must  toil  on  steadfastly,  teacher,  and  read  up 
yota*  theme,  and  you  will  find  that  the  facility  for  teacliing  will  come 
to  you. 

In  the  first  place  you  must  be  sort  of  practical ;  you  mustn't  fly 
high  ;  you  must  sit  down  and  set  to  work,  depending  somewhat  on  the 
imagination  for  reproducing  the  scenes  which  took  place  in  ancient 


The   Tvachry  and  his   Class.  285 

times,  liemciubei"  a  few  fmidamoutal  principles.  Firat,  that  nieu 
always  act  in  the  same  waj'  under  similar  circumstances. 

If  there  were  a  cry  of  "  Fii'c  "  here  to-night,  and  you  believed  it,  you 
would  rush  to  the  door  to  get  out  into  the  street  just  the  same  as 
pcojUe  would  have  done  1,800  years  ago.  If  a  marvel  of  eloquence 
■were  announced  to  preach  here  to-night,  crowds  would  have  flocked  to 
hear  him,  and  would  have  jostled  each  other,  angry  words  would  have 
been  spoken,  ladies  would  have  fainted  just  the  same  as  they  would 
have  dune  1,800  years  ago.  Kcalize  then  that  luider  similar  circum- 
stances people  act  in  a  similar  way  ;  and  if  yon  apply  this  very  simple 
principle  you  will  be  able  to  reproduce  many  of  the  scenes  of  Scripture 
and  make  your  lesson  a  living  one  to  your  scholars. 

Now,  teacher,  if  you  see  a  thing  yourself  you  \\iil  interest  yoiu' 
pupils  by  telling  them  of  it.  Why,  a  deaf  nude  is  interesting  when 
telling  of  an  exhibition  that  he  saw  hunself.  I  do  not  know  how  ho 
does  it,  but  he  does.  The  trouble  of  om*  teachers  is  that  they  see 
nothing,  with  the  result  that  their  scholars  see  nothing.  Apply  then 
the  principle  I  have  given  you.  Let  me  just  sliow  you  how  I  would 
do  it. 

I  again  sit  down  and  begin  to  think  of  a  miracle  or  a  parable  ;  take, 
for  example,  the  man  borne  of  four.  What  does  the  story  tell  ?  Jesus 
in  the  house,  four  men  come  up  bearing  a  man  stricken  with  palsy — ■ 
cannot  get  in  because  of  the  crowd — they  go  on  the  roof  and  break  it 
lip,  and  let  the  man  down  into  the  room  where  Jesus  was.  Jesus  says, 
"  Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee  :  get  iip  and  go !  "  and  the  man  got  up  and 
went  away.  That  is  the  story,  and  you  must  pi'oceed  to  think  it  out 
thus  :  What  was  the  room  like  ?  A  suuiU,  square  room,  probably,  with 
the  door  over  there  ;  on  one  side  a  table,  and  a  little  raised  platforni 
where  Jesus  was  sitting,  and  every  available  space  occupied  by  the 
crowd,  all  anxious  to  see  what  was  going  on.  What  was  the  nature  of 
the  crowd  ?  "Wliy,  they  would  be  straining  every  nerve  to  see  and  hear 
what  Jesus  was  going  to  do ;  those  outside  would  be  standing  on  tiptoe 
so  as  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  inside. 

How  do  we  know  that?  Because,  it  would  be  just  the  same  with  a 
crowd  of  to-day.  I  know  perfectly  well  what  I  shoidd  have  done 
under  the  same  circumstances.  When  the  four  men  came  up,  they 
said,  "  Friends,  make  room,  we  want  to  get  inside."  But  the  crowd 
was  so  thick,  they  could  not  make  room,  they  were  packed  so  tigjit 
romid  the  door.  "  What  is  to  be  done  now  ?  "  said  one,  "  it  seems 
hopeless."  The  feeble  brother  says  (you  will  always  find  one  feeble 
brother  among  foiu'),  "Well,  we  have  tried  and  cannot  get  in,  so  we 
shall  have  to  give  it  up."  They  sit  down  to  consider ;  they  wipe 
their  brows,  for  it  is  very  hard  work,  and  the  wide-awake  plucky 
brother  says  (there  is  always  a  plucky  brother  among  four),  "  Nothing 
of  the  sort,  I  am  not  going  to  give  it  up  ;  we  will  go  round  to  the  back 
of  the  house  and  get  on  the  roof  and  break  it  up."  "  Oh !  "  say  the 
others,  "  who  is  going  to  pay  for  it  ?  "    "  Why,  I  will,"  says  the  plucky 


28G  Jhinaijcmcni  of  SniKlaij  Schooh. 

one,  "  so  come  on."     (You  will  always  find  among  four  brothers  one 
v'illing  to  pay  and  the  other  three  willing  to  let  him.)      (Lauglitcr.) 

Now,  remember  what  was  going  on  ;  the  four  men  on  the  roof,  and 
Jesus  inside  the  house  talking  to  the  people.  By-and-by,  they  hear 
steps  on  the  roof,  and  then  a  creaking  and  a  noise  which  they  cannot 
understand.  Jesus  loses  His  audience  in  a  moment ;  every  eye  is 
turned  iipwards  to  the  roof.  That  woidd  be  the  case  here,  would  it 
not  ?  If  you  heard  any  cracking  sort  of  noise  going  on  up  there, 
wouldn't  you  all  tm-n  your  eyes  up  to  see  what  it  all  meant  ?  Well, 
the  audience  fastened  their  eyes  on  the  roof,  and  said,  "  Why,  they  are 
breaking  up  the  roof!  "  All  conversation  ceases  inside,  and  by-and-by, 
they  see  ropes  stretched  across  and  a  man  was  let  down  into  the  room. 
There  was  no  room  for  him  at  first,  but  they  were  obliged  to  make 
room  when  they  saw  a  man  commg  down  on  to  their  heads.  What 
happened  ?  What  woidd  happen  here  if  you  saw  I  had  the  power  of 
healing  ?     What  woidd  you  do  ? 

You  would  say,  "  I  want  to  see  you  ciu'c  that  man  :  I  want  to  see  how 
you  are  going  to  do  it."  There  woidd  be  a  dead  silence  ;  only  the  voice 
of  Jesus  would  be  heard  saying,  "  Son,  be  of  good  cheer."  The  people 
niavvel  among  themselves.  Then  the  master  hfts  up  His  voice  once 
niore  and  says,  "  That  ye  make  known  the  Son  of  man  hath  power  "  (He 
saitli  to  tlie  sick  man),  "  Arise,  take  up  thy  bed  and  go  to  tliine  own 
house."  I  tell  you  there  was  deathly  silence.  How  do  we  know  that  ? 
Because  there  woidd  be  here  under  similar  cu'cnmstances.  The  man 
gets  up  on  his  feet,  gives  himself  a  stretch,  and  goes  on  his  waj.  Now 
what  were  the  foiu'  men  on  the  roof  doing  all  this  time  ?  Do  you 
suppose  they  were  kicking  their  heels  and  whistling  a  tune  ?  No,  not 
they ;  they  were  lying  flat  on  their  faces  looking  right  down  into  the 
room  to  see  what  was  going  on,  and  when  they  saw  that  Jesus  had 
healed  their  fi'iend,  what  did  they  do  ?  Why,  they  were  euraptm-ed, 
and  praised  God,  crying,  "  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  we  have 
seen  strange  thmgs  to-day."  (Applause.)  Now,  what  have  I  done  ?  I 
have  done  nothing  but  to  imagine  myself  there,  and  how  I  should  have 
acted  and  spoken  and  felt  if  I  had  been  present.  You  can  do  that 
with  every  miracle,  every  parable,  if  you  will  only  sit  down  patiently  in 
yom*  study  and  work  the  thing  out,  and  then  you  will  feel  so  fixll  of  the 
lesson  when  you  go  to  the  class  that  you  will  be  able  to  interest  your 
scholars  and  give  them  something  to  remember. 

That  is  a  little  feeble  illustration  of  what  I  call  a  rehgious  use  of  the 
iman^ination.  I  believe  in  a  measiu-e,  in  a  legitimate  use,  a  sanctified 
use  of  the  imagination.  Now  with  regard  to  appeaUng  to  the  actual 
eye,  and  not  to  the  imagination.  I  tell  you  that  with  the  aid  of  a 
blackboard  you  can  make  ail  your  subjects  so  simple  that  a  little  cluld 
shall  understand  you.  I  never  preach  a  sermon  to  cliildren  but  that 
the  adults  come  to  me  and  say  "  Preach  us  another."  But  no  one  ever 
asks  me  to  go  again  when  I  preach  a  sermon  to  adults. 

I  want  to  show  you  how  to  make  things  very  simple  and  very  plain 


The   Tr<irlin-  (iiiil  ///.s   Class.  287 

to  }  om-  si'hulars.  llemcmbcr  this,  in  giving  bLickboanl  exciviscs,  do  not 
make  them  so  mullironn  thiit  you  woiiul  have  to  have  a  board  tlic  size 
of  the  side  of  a.  house  to  get  thciii  all  on.  Simphcity  impi-esscs,  luulti- 
plieily  obseuivs,  aud  we  want  to  bo  just  as  simple  as  ABC  can  make 
lis.  Let  lue  say  this  :  I  had  to  jii-actise  myself  on  Saturday  artornooii.s 
wliat  I  was  going  to  put  on  tlie  board,  so  that  the  children  might 
understand  it.  On  one  occasion  I  wanted  to  make  an  eye  on  the  black- 
board, and  I  had  not  been  practising  it  up  at  home,  so  I  drew  it  in 
class  as  near  as  I  could  on  ray  blackboard,  and  made  as  I  thought  a 
thing  somewhat  resembling  an  eye ;  and  I  said  to  my  scholars,  "  What's 
that  ?  "  "  A  iish,"  said  they.  (Loud  laughter.)  Now  it  is  all  foolish- 
ness to  try  and  do  blackboard  in  that  way,  you  must  practise  so  that 
yon  can  make  an  eye  like  an  eye,  and  not  like  a  fish.  Get  a  piece  of 
chalk  that  is  big  enough  to  be  seen ;  use  the  blackboard  for  two  pur- 
poses :  first  to  impress  facts,  and  secondly  to  impress  spiritual  appli- 
cations, and  always  try  to  make  your  illustrations  sensible.  You  can 
illustrate  the  bare  facts  in  the  life  of  Judas  in  this  way 


a 


(a)  the  Apostle ;  the  sin  of  covetousness  (c)  steals  into  liis  heart  and 
lie  commences  Ids  downward  grade  ;  (f)  traitor  ;  another  (f)  thief,  and 
when  he  gets  to  the  end  of  his  downward  grade,  he  plunges  down  into 
the  chasm  and  is  lost.  Your  scholars  will  remember  a  diagram  like 
that:  you  will  have  the  most  troublesome  and  the  dullest  scholar 
interested.  You  appeal  to  the  eye  as  well  as  to  the  ear,  and  your 
scholars  will  remember  it  all. 

Jesus 
Take  another  illustration,  before     When  you  come  to  a  spiritual 
Pilate, 
application  of  this,  you  will  make  your  scholars  read  it  upwards,  and 

Pilate 
then  it  will  be  before  for  then  cometh  the  day  when  He  will  sit  on  the 

Jesus, 
right  and  Pilate  on  the  left  with  the  vest.  Jesus  says  to  you  now  : 
Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock ;  He  is  knocking  at  the  door 
of  your  heart;  at  present  it  is  "Jesus  before  you,"  but  by-and-by  it 
■will  be  reversed ;  it  will  be  "  you  before  Jesus."  This  is  very  simple, 
but  you  will  find  it  AviU  carry  mcanmg  to  the  feeble  minds  of  your 
scholars. 

One  other  illustration.    \Vc  have  the  le::sou  of  Ananias  and  Sapplm-a. 


288  Management  of  Simdaij  Schools. 

We  simply  bring  out  this  truth  :  "A  lie."  In  the  first  place  we  have 
the  source  of  the  lie,  and  we  show  it  as  coming  up  from  below,  thus 

^ «,.      A  lie  never  came  from  God ;  it  is  never  right  to  lie,  and  we 

stand  by  that  through  thick  and  thin. 

I  once  asked  a  brother  if  he  thought  it  was  ever  right  to  tell  a  lie, 
and  he  said,  "Yes,  it  was."  Well,  that  is  enough  to  take  your  breath 
away,  and  knock  you  down  with  a  feather.  What  is  the  end  of  a  he  ? 
Why,  just  this.  It  came  from  below,  and  it  has  to  go  back  again  ;  it 
sprang  from  Satan  and  it  must  go  back  to  Satan  ^      and  that  is 

where  Ananias  and  Sapphh-a  went.  v^  j 

One  more  illustration.     In  New  York  city  there  are  two  railway 

tracks  which  we  will  represent  thus     1 1  .   The  stations  bemg  only  a  few 

feet  apart.  A  young  man  may  go  to  the  starting-point  and  say  to 
himself,  "Well,  it  doesn't  matter  which  track  I  take,  they  are  only  a 
few  feet  apart."  Well,  he  gets  on  one,  and  instead  of  landing  in  Boston 
as  he  wished,  he  is  taken  about  3,000  miles  away.  The  starting-points 
are  close  together,  but  the  tracks  are  vastly  different.  A  youth  may 
say,  "  Oh,  it  doesn't  matter  whether  I  go  to  the  theatre  to-night  or  to 
the  prayer-meeting  "  ;  but  what  will  the  end  be  ?  They  may  be  close 
togethei*,  standing  side  by  side,  but  where  will  each  lead  him  ?  A  little 
divergence  at  the  start,  but  an  eternity  of  difference  before  the  close. 

You  will  find,  teachers,  that  three  lessons  out  of  four  will  yield  an 
exercise  that  you  can  illustrate  if  you  are  a  bit  skilful  in  the  use  of  the 
blackboard,  and  it  will  make  a  wonderful  difference  in  the  attention  of 
yom*  scholars.  I  notice  that  some  people  are  always  on  fire  when  they 
get  at  Convention,  and  they  resolve  what  they  are  going  to  carry  out 
when  they  go  home,  but  when  they  do  get  home  they  just  simmer  off 
and  cool  down. 

This  reminds  me  of  a  story  I  once  heard  of  a  blacksmith  who 
stammered  very  badly,  and  who  had  an  apprentice  who  also  stammered 
very  badly,  and  one  day  they  had  a  piece  of  iron  on  the  anvil  which  had 
been  heated  at  the  forge ;  the  blacksmith  lifted  his  hammer  and  the 
boy  hfted  his,  but  neither  of  them  struck ;  they  remained  with  their 
hammers  raised.  So  the  blacksmith  stammered  out,  "  W-w-w-why 
don't  you  strike?"  The  boy  replied,  " W-w-w-w-where  shall  I 
strike?  "     "  Oh,  n-n-never  m-mind  now,  it's  cold."     (Applause.) 

The  Peesident  :  We  were  told  just  now  that  Scotland  was  rathei* 
scantUy  represented  ;  one  friend  spoke  of  himself  as  the  only  represen- 
tative, but  I  am  dehghted  to  say  that  we  have  the  Earl  aud  Countess 
of  Aberdeen  now  with  us,  and  I  think  you  may  hke  to  hear  a  few 
words  from  his  lordaliip.     (Loud  cheers.) 

Lord  Abekdeen  :  Mr.  Chairman  and  dear  friends,  I  certamly  was 
not  prepared  to  address  you  before,  but  I  am  afraid  I  am  still  less 
prepared  after  the  extremely  kind  greeting  you  have  given  me,  because 
it  certainly  looks  as  if  you  expected  something  from  me.     I  am  afraid 


37(t:  Aniericdii   Snnihii/  School   Union.  'JS'J 

I  can  oUcr  littlo  except  a  most  licarly  expression  of  appreciation  of 
your  liearty  greeting  on  behalf  of  Lady  Aberdeen  and  myself.  I  can 
only  allude  in  terms  of  congratulation  and  thankfulness  regarding  your 
gatheruig  here.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  keynote  of  such  a  Con- 
vention as  tills  ought  to  be,  and  I  believe  on  this  occasion  has  been, 
that  of  intense  hopefulness  and  intense  thankfulness — hopefiJness 
because  the  work  is  concerned  with  the  young,  the  great  hope  of  the 
future.  It  has  been  a  cause  of  great  regret  that  I  have  not  been  able  to 
attend  some  of  your  meetings,  and  I  think — if  I  may  be  allowed  to  say 
it — yovi  are  to  be  congratulated  xipon  the  very  able  officials  at  the  head 
of  this  gatliering. 

I  shall  certainly  not  attempt  to  prolong  my  remarks  at  the  present 
moment,  but  must  again  express  my  appreciation  of  yom*  cordial  greet- 
ing ;  I  am  very  thankful  to  have  any  share  at  all  in  the  movement  of 
which  this  meeting  is  the  outcome.     (Applause.) 

The  President  :  Before  calling  on  Mr.  W.  B.  Jacobs  to  read  Dr. 
Duncan's  paper,  I  may  just  remark  that  it  will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to 
Lady  Aberdeen  and  to  all  of  you  to  know  that  the  bazaar  which  slie 
very  kindly  opened  last  week  has  resulted — or  I  think  I  may  say  by- 
and-by  when  all  the  remaining  articles  are  sold,  will  result — in  a  profit 
of  more  than  £2,000  to  our  Sunday  School  Union.  You  will  also  be 
glad  to  hear  that  the  bazaar  will  only  be  the  beginning  of  a  far  more 
earnest  effort  in  the  direction  of  Sunday  school  extension. 

I  think  that  before  this  Convention  separates  we  shall  be  able  to  tell 
you  that  we  have  arranged  for  a  secretary  for  India,  and  we  want  tlii^ 
work  to  be  done  not  by  England  alone,  but  by  England  and  America 
joiiung  Lands.  I  think  this  will  be  very  gratifying  to  the  Countess  of 
Aberdeen  and  the  noble  Earl. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Jacobs  {Chicago),  said:  Before  reading  Dr.  Duncan's 
pajier  he  would  be  glad  if  he  might  call  iipon  the  Rev.  B.  W.  Chidlaw 
to  say  a  few  words.     To  this  the  Chairman  readily  assented. 

Dr.  CniDLAW,  the  veteran  missionary  of  the  American  Sunday 
School  Union,  now  seventy-eight  years  of  age,  and  fifty-three  in  tlie 
service  of  the  society  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  spoke  earnestly  of  the 
origin,  the  methods  of  work,  and  the  residts  of  this  national  agency  for 
tlie  establishment  of  Union  schools,  and  the  publication  of  a  pure  and 
elevated  juvenile  literature.  The  society  was  formed  in  1824..  on  the 
basis  of  Christian  union,  religious  people  of  all  denominations  co-operat- 
ing to  plant  a  Sunday  school,  with  its  Divine  text-book,  sound  oral 
instruction,  and  pure  literature,  wherever  it  was  practical  to  do  tliis 
work  in  the  midst  of  our  heterogeneous  popidation,  in  places  where  there 
are  no  rehgious  societies  or  chapels,  missionaries,  ministers,  or  laymen, 
of  ditferent  denominations  ;  men  of  God,  intelligent,  skilled  in  Smiday 
work,  winning  in  then*  manners,  and  of  executive  ability  are  sent  to 
explore  destitute  regions,  to  prepare  the  way,  and  aid  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  Bible  schools,  in  eveiy  locality  thus   visited  from  house  to 

house. 

V 


290  JSTuiuKjouad  of  Siuidaj  Schouh. 

We  fmd  a  few  religions  people  of  various  shades  of  belief,  with  a 
large  admixture  of  indiiference  to  all  religious  matters  and  unbelief. 
On  the  basis  of  our  common  Christianity  the  religions  element  will 
luiite,  and  the  Sunday  school  is  established  without  the  impress  of  any 
special  ecclesiastical  type.  The  Union  Sunday  school  banner  waving 
over  a  log  cabin  Bible  school  is  an  attraction  for  some  itinerant  Gospel 
minister,  who,  in  love  and  truth,  labours  to  win  souls  to  Christ  and  His 
service  by  preaching  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  Eclievers,  old  and 
young,  imite  together  one  in  Christ,  and  become  a  -witnessing  church  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  bear  the  name  of  the  denomination  which  the 
majority  prefer.  In  this  way,  hundreds  of  churches  have  been  organ- 
ized on  the  foundation  of  the  Union  Sunday  school,  Jesus  Christ 
being  the  chief  corner  stone. 

These  missioners,  as  opportunity  offers,  visit  the  schools  they  liave 
estabUshed.  Those  foimd  weak  and  langiushing  they  revive  and 
strengthen  by  teacliing  the  teachers,  and  reaching  the  people  by 
public  addi'css.  Another  featm-e  of  their  labour  is  to  supply  the 
schools  with  books.  Our  Scriptm-al,  but  imdenominationai,  litera- 
tm-e  is  acceptable  to  the  masses  of  our  people,  and  thus  a  wide 
and  effectual  door  is  opened  for  the  introduction  and  circulation  of 
rehgious  readmg,  that  our  youth  may  not  be  demorahzed  by  the  vile 
and  corrupting,  the  light  and  frivolous  literature  so  prevalent  in 
Eiu'ope  as  well  as  America. 

Eesttlts. 

In  sixty-five  years,  sustained  by  the  confidence  and  contriblttioiis  of 
churches,  individuals,  and  Sunday  school  missionary  societies,  throtigb. 
its  missions  84,000  schools  have  been  organized,  with  700,000  teachers, 
and  4,200,000  scholars  gathered  into  the  Sunday  school  fold,  multitude? 
of  whom  were  taught  the  way  of  hfe  and  made  wise  imto  salvation  and 
a  useful  Clu-istian  life.  Last  year  we  had  eighty  missioners  employed 
among  the  sod  houses  of  Nebraska,  the  mining  camps  in  the  Rocky 
Mountams,  in  the  prairies  of  "Wisconsin,  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  and 
among  the  miUions  of  freedmen  and  poor  whites  in  the  south.  God 
with  us,  and  finchng  favour  with  the  people,  we  organized  last  year,  in 
the  midst  of  our  destitute  population,  1,756  new  schools,  with  7,S6G 
teachers,  and  63,375  scholars,  and  distributed  20,000  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments, and  a  large  quantity  of  our  excellent  hymn-books  and  Ubraries, 
at  a  total  expense  of  £14,600,  in  the  support  of  the  missions,  and  the 
donation  of  books  where  the  people  needed  help,  combiumg  our 
labour  with  all  other  agencies  in  om-  broad  land,  labouring  for  the 
extension  and  improvement  of  the  Sunday  school  work  ;  while,  to-day, 
not  one-half  of  our  18,000,000  of  youth  are  taught  of  the  Lord  in  the 
famdy,  the  church,  and  the  Simday  school,  we  trust,  the  love  of  Christ 
constrauiiag  xis,  that  by  the  blessmg  of  God  the  time  is  near  when  all 
our  juvenile  popidation  in  the  United  States,  yea  in  tlie  whole  world, 


Home  Classes  fur  Ahsenlecs.  291 

will  love,  and  study,  uud  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures — trust  iu  Jesus, 
their  Savioiu-,  and  serve  Him  in  newness  of  life,  and  dwell  -with  Him 
for  ever  in  His  kingdom  and  glory. 


HOME  CLASSES,  OR  THE  HOME  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE 
SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

Faper  lij  \Y.  A.  Duncan,  PA.  D.  (Si/ramtse,  N.Y.,  Secretary  of  Con- 
gregational Sunday  School  Society,  Secretary  of  Chautauqua  Ax- 
semhly,  and  Author  of  "  Home  Classes"),  read  l>y  Mr.  W.  B. 
Jacobs   ( Chicago) . 

Early  in  the  year  1881,  the  wiiter  originated  the  plan  for  "Home 
Classes,"  now  comLng  into  growing  favoiu*  in  the  United  States.  Its 
piu-pose  is  to  promote  the  study  of  God's  "Word  among  those  who  do 
not  attend  church  or  Simday  school.  The  plan  proposes,  in  connection 
with  church  schools,  the  oi-ganizatiou  of  classes  of  one  or  more  pei-sons 
at  the  homes  of  the  scholars,  or  in  any  place  where  chUdreu  or  adults 
can  be  induced  to  study  the  Bible  with  or  without  a  teacher.  These 
classes  constitute  the  Home  Department  of  the  Sunday  school.  Its 
working  will  be  made  plain  imder  the  following  heads  : — 

The  Field. — The  necessity  of  the  Home  Class  grew  out  of  a  recog- 
nition of  the  fact,  that  in  every  community  there  are  two  classes  of 
people — chiu-ch  goers  and  non-chm-ch  goers ;  that  many  of  the  non- 
attendants  have  been  attendants,  but  uifh-mities,  care  of  the  sick,  the 
young,  or  aged,  or  remoteness  from  chmrh,  have  caused  a  reluctant 
absence.  Fm-ther,  that  many  are  too  poor  to  have  proper  clothing  for 
either  themselves  or  chUdi-eu ;  that  many  are  antagonistic  to  or  pi-e- 
judiced  against  the  church,  or  some  of  its  members,  and  that  besides  nU 
these  there  are  h'.mdi-eds  and  thousands  that  are  indifferent. 

It  is  an  exceptional  community  where  20  per  cent,  of  the  population 
or  50  per  cent,  of  the  childi-en,  can  be  found  on  the  Sabbath  in  cliurcli 
or  Sunday  school.  Connecticut  leads  with  24.  per  cent.,  England  and 
New  England  follow  with  an  average  of  20  per  cent.,  and  the  whole  of 
the  United  States  has  but  16  per  cent. 

Oe.tect. — The  object  of  the  "  Home  Class  "  is  the  regiUav  study  iu  tlie 
Home,  by  those  who  do  not  regularly  attend  Smiday  school,  of  the  lesson 
of  the  day,  as  it  is  studied  by  the  classes  actuaUy  in  attendance. 

Plan. — The  plan  outlined  includea  a  letter  explaimng  the  method  of 
the  work  and  asking  all  who  wish  to  join  the  "  Home  Department "  to 
sign  and  retiu-n  the  pledge,  wliich  is  as  foUcws  :  "  We,  the  undersigned, 
agree  to  join  the  Home  Department  of  the  ...  •  Church  Smiday 
school  of  ....  ,  and  to  spend  at  least  one  half-horn-  each  Sunday  m 
the  study  of  the  lesson  for  that  day,  unless  prevented  by  sickness  or 
other  good  cause.  "We  agi-ee  to  continue  om'  membership  xmtiL  we 
notify  the  superintendent  of  mthdrawal." 

u  2 


292  Managcmti'd  of  Sundaij  Srhools. 

A  record  card  accompanies  the  pledge,  with  ridings  for  the  names  cjf 
the  members  and  for  the  weekly  attendance  for  three  months,  with  a 
column  for  the  totals  and  the  collections,  which  are  taken  up  each  Sunday 
and  placed  in  a  httle  envelope.  All  of  our  Sunday  schools  are  organized 
with  primary  and  intermediate  departments  and  their  respective  officers, 
the  different  departments  meeting  at  an  appropriate  place  and  time  to 
study  the  lesson  of  the  day  together.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Home 
Class  adds  a  thii-d  department  to  the  school,  imder  the  supervision  of  its 
own.  officers  ;  the  scholars  study  either  singly  or  in  classes,  as  the  case 
may  be,  in  theu*  own  homes,  and  keep  a  record  of  theii*  attendance  and 
contributions.  Theu'  names  are  entered  iipon  the  record  books  of  the 
church  Sunday  school,  their  attendance  and  the  study  of  the  Word  at 
home  is  recognized  as  the  same  as  if  in  attendance  at  the  regular 
session  of  the  mam  school,  and  they  add  to  the  membership  of  the 
regidar  Sunday  school.  The  class  books,  lesson  papers,  picture  cards, 
singing  books,  and  envelopes  are  to  be  furnished  by  the  parent  school. 
Members  of  the  Home  Department  are  ru-ged  to  attend  the  church 
services  and  Sunday  school  as  often  as  possible,  and  to  take  part  in  all 
school  entertainments,  so  that  they  may  feel  themselves  a  part  of  the 
regular  Simday  school. 

Thus  the  people  who  cannot  or  do  not  attend  pubUc  sei-vices  may  do 
the  work  of  the  church  school  at  home  and  yet  be  a  part  of  it. 

Conditions. — The  conditions  are,  fii'st,  to  sign  and  retm-n  the  card, 
promising  to  spend  not  less  than  half-an-hour  each  Sunday  in  tlie  study 
of  the  lesson  for  the  day.  Second,  to  keep  on  the  report  cards  a  connect 
record  of  the  attendance  at  the  study  of  the  lesson,  marking  "  XX " 
when  you  attend  the  mam  school  of  the  church.  At  the  end  of  each 
quarter,  the  record  card  should  be  maded  or  delivered  to  the  super- 
intendent of  the  school. 

Method. — Committees  under  the  direction  of  the  superintendent  of 
the  Home  Department  should  divide  up  the  parish,  and,  being  supplied 
with  materials,  make  a  thorough  canvas.  Aged,  sick,  or  blind  members 
of  the  chm-ch  or  society  should  be  urged  to  join  the  Home  Class,  as 
young  people  can  easdy  be  found  who  will  be  willing  to  read  the  lessons 
and  comments,  questions  and  answers,  and  converse  about  them. 
Pamihes  and  individuals  who  have  become  separated  from  the  chxu'cli 
and  Simday  school  can  be  caref idly  apjproached  and  often  led  to  com- 
ir.ence  again  the  study  of  the  "Word.  The  success  of  the  work  depends 
upon  its.  coimection  with  the  Sunday  school,  and  the  feehng  that  the 
members  of  the  Home  Class  are  accepted  as  regular  members  of  the 
school,  yet  are  not  required  to  be  in  attendance  upon  its  services. 
Tliere  are  a  large  number  in  evei-y  country  school  district,  as  well  as  in 
the  cities,  who  can  be  easily  persuaded  into  this  form  of  member- 
ship. Many  schools  have  increased  then-  numbers  from  20  to  25 
per  cent,  within  a  short  time  after  adopting  this  method,  and  in  some 
places   additions  as  large  as  50  to  100  per  cent,  have  been  secxired. 


11(11)10  Classes  for  Absentees.  293 

It  opens  up  i\  Held  of  useful  work  for  the  Societies  of  Christian 
Endeavoui-  and  "  ICing's  Dauglitcrs."  The  enlistment  of  recruits, 
collection  and  distribution  of  material,  the  -watclifuhiess  and  care 
necessary  for  the  highest  success  require  the  earnest  etforts  of  conse- 
crated labourers.  Some  schools  appoint  large  committees  to  supervise 
this  work.  Families  who  do  not  attend  Sunday  school  or  cluircli 
because  living  too  far  away,  being  ill  or  disabled,  commercial  travcUei-.s, 
railroad  men,  all  should  be  interviewed.  Some  take  pledge  cards  in 
their  pockets,  and  as  they  journey  from  place  to  place  invite  the  people 
whom  they  meet  to  join  the  Home  Department,  though  living  hundreds 
of  miles  away.  Let  the  Sunday  school  scholar  go  to  his  father  and 
say,  "Papa,  won't  you  study  the  lessou  at  home?  I  woidd  like  to 
have  you  so  much.  "We  study  it  down  in  the  Sunday  school,  and  I 
wish  you  woidd  join  the  Home  Class.  Won't  you,  papa  ?  "  You  doii't 
believe  there  are  many  fathers,  and  hardly  a  mother,  in  the  world  who 
woidd  say  "  No  "  to  that  ? 

Results. — A  Cln-istian  brother  in  one  of  the  towns  of  Connecticut 
wi'ites  that  be  has  organized  two  Home  Classes,  each  about  two  miles 
fi'om  auy  church  ;  nud  one  of  them,  with  ten  or  twelve  members,  soon 
began  to  devise  some  plan  for  getting  to  church  on  Sunday.  A  band 
of  "  King's  Daughters  "  have  euhsted  one  family  of  six.  The  mother  is 
an  invalid,  and  the  family  have  no  means  of  conveyance,  and  were  glad 
to  be  invited  to  study  the  lessons  together.  An  old  lady  who  had  not 
attended  chm-ch  for  years  was  mvited  to  join,  and  every  Saturday  after- 
noon some  member  of  this  band  of  workers  goes  to  her  house  and 
studies  the  lesson  with  her  and  her  gi-andchddren.  In  another  com- 
munity the  Home  Department  included  one  himch-ed  and  tliu'ty  (130) 
members,  a  larger  number  than  the  membership  of  the  school  with 
which  it  is  connected.  Many  of  these  are  beginning  to  attend  the 
school  with  some  degree  of  regularity.  One  church  extends  the  opera- 
tions of  its  Home  Department  to  absent  members  who  have  removed  to 
distant  places.  A  family  in  Utah,  where  church  privileges  are  not 
provided,  ai"e  in  this  way  identified  with  a  mother  cluu'ch  in  Connecti- 
cut. The  pastor  of  one  of  the  cluu'ches  where  this  plan  was  mtroduced 
said  in  one  of  our  Conventions  that  it  had  opened  the  way  for  pas- 
toral work,  religious  conversation,  and  prayer  in  many  fanulies  wliich 
hitherto  had  been  almost  inaccessible.  In  another  chm-ch  the  regvdar 
attendance  on  the  Bible  class  in  the  Simday  school  was  increased  about 
one-thu'd.  Seventeen  persons  in  the  city  of  Lowell  and  six  outside  of 
the  city  have  imited  in  this  home  study.  One  has  been  confined  to  the 
house  for  eight  years.  Another  lives  in  the  far  West,  and  is  several 
miles  fi'om  any  church  or  school.  The  non-residents  are  all  members, 
and  have  at  some  time  been  connected  with  the  school.  Of  these,  two 
ai'e  in  Maine,  one  m  Vermont,  one  in  South  Boston,  one  in  Dakota,  and 
one  travels  in  different  parts  of  the  world.  The  members  of  the 
department  .^peak  of  tlie  encouragement  and  profit  derived  from  being 


294  3lanrigemevt  of  Snndcuj  Scliools. 

thus  actively  associated  "U"itli  tlie  sclioolin  Eible  studies.  Each  Suudav 
these  "  shut  in"  ones  are  mentioned  particulai'ly  in  the  opening  praycv 
of  the  school.  The  superintendent  says:  "As  we  gather  here  in  the 
school  Ave  bear  in  mind  that  in  various  homes  in  the  city,  and  in 
dilferent  parts  of  our  countrj^,  thoughts  are  turned  tovv'ards  us  and 
]5rayers  are  ascending  for  the  blessing  of  God  to  be  upon  us,  and  the 
thought  is  to  us  an  inspiration."  So  the  benefits  of  the  "  Home  De- 
partment" are  not  confined  to  its  members.  Before  leaving  home  u 
girl  asked  her  father  to  organize  a  Home  Department.  He  did  so.  He 
invited  four  other  families,  and  those  iive  families  studied  God's  Word 
in  connection  yribh  the  church  school.  Within  a  year  every  parent 
belonging  to  those  famihes  had  joined  the  nearest  church,  a  mile  and  a 
half  away.  An  mvahd,  after  ten  years  of  absence  fi'om  the  cIuutIi,  said, 
"It  seems  so  good  to  at  least  be  doing  something  with  Christian  people, 
and  to  feel  I  have  something  in  common  with  them."  A  servant  girl 
in  a  city  saw  some  boys  stealing  fi-uit  in  the  garden.  She  invited  them 
into  the  kitchen,  and  asked  her  employer  if  she  might  organize  a  Homo 
Class.  He  said,  Yes.  The  boys  became  interested;  they  invited  in 
other  boys,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she  had  twelve  or  fifteen, 
Sunday  after  Smiday,  in  her  employer's  kitchen,  teacliing  them  tho 
Word  of  God. 

In  the  Reformed  Church  at  Heading,  Pennsylvania,  a  city  of  60,000 
people,  the  Home  Department  was  organized  in  May,  1887,  and  com- 
mittees appointed  to  carry  on  the  work.  Ladies,  business  and  pro- 
fessional men,  an  army  oflicer,  and  a  member  of  Congress,  are  em-olled. 
One  year  after  its  organization  there  were  221  members,  13  had  trans- 
i'erred  theu*  membership  to  the  church  school,  and  the  total  amount  of 
the  collections  for  the  last  tlu-ee  quarters  was  63  dollars.  Some  have 
been  induced  to  attend  church  more  regularly,  and  some  to  join  it. 

A  mother  and  widow  in  a  httle  comitry  town  saw  the  boys  playing 
in  the  streets.  She  asked  her  superintendent  if  she  might  organize  a 
class  in  her  own  home.  The  privilege  was  given  her,  and  supphes  were 
sent.  Two  of  her  o-\vn  little  boys  became  so  interested  that  they  bought 
a  printing-press,  and  every  week  twenty-five  or  thu-ty  waifs  received  a 
printed  tract,  the  mother  painting  on  the  outside  page  a  pictm-e,  and 
tying  the  leaves  together  with  coloiu-ed  ribbons.  Every  week  each  of 
those  children  came  to  that  house,  and  got  that  which  had  been  prepared 
for  them  by  the  mother  and  her  childi-en.  A  woman  in  Dakota  started 
a  Home  Class.  The  work  grew  upon  her  hands,  and  a  year  ago  they 
moved  into  an  unoccupied  saloon.  A  chm-ch  grew  out  of  tliis  effort, 
and  it  -is  now  building  an  edifice  in  that  neighbourhood.  In  a  woman's 
home  in  a  city  in  Ohio  a  Home  Class  was  started,  which  grew  into  a 
Sunday  school,  and  withm  a  year  it  has  developed  into  a  chm-ch.  A 
father  would  not  allow  his  four  children  to  go  either  to  Simclay  school 
or  chm-ch,  but  finally  consented  to  let  the  teacher  come  to  the  house 
after  her  Sunday  school  hour  was  over.  Their  names  were  enrohecl 
upon  the  record  of  the  school,  and  every  Smiday  the  teacher  visited  the 


niiiiw;  CldSfiL's  fur  Ahftrulcoa.  295 

liuuiblo  home,  the  cliikhvu  greeting  her  with  great  joy.  After  a  few 
weeks  they  were  able  to  reeitc  tlie  Golden  Texts  for  the  quarter,  the  Ten 
Commandments,  and  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  father  was  very  abusive 
to  tlie  mother.  One  Sabbath  the  teacher  asked  for  the  absent  mother 
and  (ho  cliildren  began  to  cry.  Soon  a  door  opened,  and  the  poor 
mother  came  out  with  her  head  bruised  from  bemg  beaten.  Presently 
the  husband  came  in,  and  talked  cruelly  to  her  in  the  presence  of  the 
teacher.  The  only  comfort  that  mother  had  was  the  privilege  of  having 
her  children  instructed  in  righteousness  in  her  home.  Early  in  June, 
1889,  tliis  father  consented  that  the  cliildren  should  attend  the  regular 
session  of  the  school. 

In  a  ease  somewhat  similar  to  this,  the  father  had  been  changed  by 
the  influence  of  the  Home  Class  from  an  opposer  to  an  interested  student 
of  the  Word,  and  an  active  helper  in  the  work.  The  class  wluch  he  at 
iii'st  reluctantly  consented  to  grew  in  a  week  from  nine  to  twenty-one 
by  inviting  in  relatives  and  neighbours.  Two  years  have  elapsed  ;  not 
a  Sunday  has  passed  without  the  study  of  the  lesson  ;  nearly  half  of  the 
family  have  joined  the  church,  and,  though  there  have  been  removals, 
the  number  is  still  twenty-one,  and  the  collections  have  been  large. 
The  pastor  who  oi'ganized  this  class,  and  who  in  a  single  week  added 
fifty  persons  to  his  Sunday  school  by  means  of  "  Home  Classes,"  writes  : 
"  I  look  back  with  regret  upon  the  years  of  my  pastorate  which  have 
gone  by  without  \ising  this  great  means  of  bri)iging  blessings  to  the 
isolated  and  uncared  for."  Good-will  Sunday  scliool  in  Syi'acuse,  N.T., 
has  a  department,  organized  three  months  ago,  with  a  membership  of 
thu'ty-five.  Two  of  these  are  colom-ed  teachers,  who  live  1000  miles 
away  in  the  slashes  of  Georgia.  Two  others  are  wliite  girls,  daughters 
of  mountaineers  in  Tennessee,  whose  mother  is  the  leader  of  a  counter- 
feit gang,  and  whose  father  is  an  inmate  of  a  Kentucky  prison  for 
passing  counterfeit  money.  This  school  also  fiu'nishes  Sunday  school 
material  to  forty-five  other  white  mountaineers  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
boui'hood,  who  are  studying  the  Bible  each  Sunday  on  this  plan. 

CojiMENDED. — Nearly  all  of  these  classes  are  using  the  helps  prepared 
by  the  Congregational  Publishing  Society,  Boston,  Mass.,  whose  general 
secretary.  Dr.  A.  E.  Dunning,  President  of  the  Chautauqua  Simday 
School  Normal  Union,  with  hearty  endorsement,  quotes  as  follows  from 
the  letter  of  a  Texas  pastor :  — 

"  I  regard  this  as  one  of  the  most  far-reaching  plans  for  the  evangeU- 
zation  of  the  land  that  has  yet  been  devised  at  so  small  a  cost." 

Bishop  Yincent  commends  the  plan  for  "  Home  Classes "  m  the 
following  words : — 

"  If  evei'ybody  went  to  chm-ch  and  Sunday  school,  a  little  school  at 
home  woidd  be  in  order.  Church  and  Sunday  school  would  be  worth 
more  because  of  the  Home  Bible  school.  The  lessons  would  be  better 
prepared  in  advance,  better  recited  at  the  time,  better  remembered 
afterward.     Home  would  be  better  because  of  this  fireside  class — this 


29G  Mcmngcmevt  of  Sunday  Schools. 

sitting-room  Sunday   school.     Church  and  Sunday  school  would  both 
be  worth  more  to  everybody. 

"But,  then,  everybody  does  not  go  to  church  and  Sunday  school,  and 
to  hun  who  does  not  go  the  school  at  home  becomes  invaluable.  He 
will  be  more  likely  to  go  ;  and  he  will  get  some  good — gi-eat  good — until 
he  does  go.  He  will  get  a  taste  at  home  of  the  precious  things  they 
have  in  the  sanctuary.  Sometimes  people  who  want  to  go  cannot ; 
distance  hinders,  children  hinder,  weather  hinders,  illness  hinders.  To 
those  people  the  stay-at-home  school  is  a  blessing.  It  passes  the  tuno 
away  swiftly  and  pleasantly.  It  takes  people  '  out  of  themselves.'  It 
prevents  gloominess  and  melanchoha.  It  bruigs  good  company  into  the 
liouse — prophets  and  apostles,  kings  and  angels,  and  the  Christ  Himself. 
It  opens  great  windows  tliat  give  far-reaching  perspectives.  A  Sunday 
school  at  home  is  a  great  thuig  for  a  home.  Let  us  liave  a  country  full 
of  such  schools. 

"  There  are  neighbom-hoods  so  far  removed  from  chm-ch  and  Sunday 
school  privileges  that  miless  the  blessings  of  Bible  study  and  rehgious 
worsliip  are  brought  to  them  they  wiH  never  be  reached.  It  is  a  long 
way  to  town  or  to  the  counti-y  chm-ch  or  school-house.  Parents  are 
iuclifferent.  Neglect  falls  into  habit.  ChUch-en  grow  up  utterly  ignorant 
of  law  and  Gospel.  In  such  neighbom-hoods  as  these  there  must  be 
Home  Sunday  schools.  Somebody  must  open  parlour,  sitting-room,  or 
kitchen,  and  invite  the  neighbours  in.  The  lesson  leaves  may  be  ordered, 
the  Bibles  brought,  a  few  songs  learned,  the  lesson  for  the  day  studied, 
and  papers  and  books  distributed.  Thuik  of  the  neighboiu-hood  Home 
schools  that  might  be  organized  and  the  amount  of  work  that  might  be 
done.  Tliink  of  the  new  element  put  into  every-day  life  by  that  school 
— the  consciences  quickened,  the  interest  in  divine  tilings  awakened, 
the  better  literatm-e  distributed,  and  the  best  religious  work  carried  on ! 

" '  Workers '  with  limp-covered  Bibles  who  go  to  conventions  and 
talk  in  meeting  do  good  work  in  then  way.  Some  of  them  are  very 
useful.  But  they  cannot  do  mother's  work  and  father's  work.  And 
we  don't  want  them  to  attempt  it  until  we  have  exhausted  every  effort 
to  mduce  father  and  mother  to  discharge  then-  own  duties.  Home  has 
its  own  legitimate  hne  of  labour.  Tliis  Home  Sunday  school  wiU  tend 
to  put  into  the  hearts  of  parents  a  sense  of  theu-  responsibility,  to  give 
then-  hands  practice  and  deftness  in  doing  the  duty  God  requires  of 
them. 

"  W.  A.  Duncan,  Esq.,  of  Syracuse,  N.Y.,  an  efficient  educator,  a 
Congregational  layman,  Sunday  school  secretaiy  for  his  church,  and 
om*  valued  associate  in  Chatauqua  work,  has  recently  developed  this 
Home  school  idea  in  several  articles,  tracts,  and  addi'esses.  We  join 
hands  with  our  beloved  Congregational  brother  in  tliis  new  endeavour 
for  more  systematic  work  by  the  family  and  by  the  neighbourhood  in 
the  teaching  and  study  of  God's  Word. 

"  Let  us  commend  the  Home  school  as  a  plan  to  be  made  effective. 
Test  it,     Test  it  at  once.      Begin  at  your  homp — whether  jrou,  the 


The    Uppov  Clauses  and  Sarnlnii  Schools.  297 

veacU'r  of  these  lines,  be  siiiHMiulciuloiit,  tciu-hcr,  or  pupil.  Look  up 
neglected  ehikli-cu  of  those  who  for  any  veasou  do  not  go  to  Sunday 
school.  Find  a  ])lace — somebody's  kitchen  or  parlour.  Appoint  a 
meeting,  get  lesson  and  otiier  papers,     liegin." 

Conclusion. — 

The  "Home  Class"  grew  from  the  memory  of  a  sainted  mother. 

"  On  Sunday  afternoon,  after  tlie  chiu-cli  services,  a  family  of  seven 
gathered  around  that  saintly  white-haired  woman  who  presided  on  the 
tin-one  of  that  home.  The  old-fashioned  bowed  spcctai'les  lay  upon 
the  pages  of  the  open  book  as  she  dropped  words  of  wisdom  and  (Jospel 
love  into  the  ears  and  hearts  of  those  children  sitting  there  looking  up 
into  her  beloved  face  : — 

"  In  childhood's  hour  I  lingered  near 
That  hallowed  spot  with  listening  ear, 
And  gentle  words  that  mother  would  give, 
To  fit  me  to  die  and  teach  me  to  live. 
She  told  nie  that  shame  would  never  betide, 
With  truth  for  my  motto  and  Christ  for  my  guide; 
She  taught  me  to  lisp  my  earliest  prayer, 
As  I  knelt  beside  that  old  arm-chair." 


THE  UPPER  CLASSES  AND  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

The  Peesident  :  May  I  at  tliis  point  discharge  an  obligation  I  am 
xuidcr  to  a  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  London  clergyman  ?  She  expressed 
her  rega-et  that  we  were  not  going  to  deal  with  the  question  of  tho 
childi-en  of  the  upper  classes  and  their  need  of  religious  training  and 
Bible  teaching.  She  said  that  no  class  of  children,  probably  in  this 
city,  were,  generally  speaking,  more  ignorant  of  Bible  truths  than  they. 
Our  American  friends  have  all  these  young  people  in  their  schools 
sitting  side  by  side  with  other  chUdi-en.     (Hear,  hear.) 

In  our  city  they  are  almost  beyond  the  reach  of  Sunday  schools. 
Some  effort  should  be  made,  and  earnestly  made,  to  carry  the  teaching 
of  God's  Word  amongst  that  most  influential  and  important  class.  I 
trust  this  is  a  subject  which  the  Convention  will  keep  before  them  for 
consideration. 

Lord  Aberdeen  rose  in  reference  to  this  important  question,  and 
said,  I  am  very  much  obhged  to  the  President  for  what  he  has  just  said 
regarding  the  great  want  in  the  matter  of  Sunday  schools  for  the 
children  of  the  upper  classes,  and  I  wish  merely  to  state  this  fact,  that  in 
one  instance,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  the  matter  is  being  attended 
to.  I  mention  it  for  the  benefit  of  ministers  and  others — it  is  in  the 
parish  of  Kensington,  whei'e  the  vicar,  Mr.  Carr-Glyn,  has  for  some 
time  had  a  Sunday  school  to  which  only  the  children  of  the  upper 


298  Mdiiagcmcnl  of  Sundaij  ScIiwIh. 

classes  are  admitted,  and  it  has  been  cai-ried  on  with  great  success,  and 
great  appreciation  iu  regard  to  the  parents.  You  are  aware  that  Ken- 
sington is  a  wealthy  parish,  and  the  school  is  composed  of  that  class  ; 
but  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  be  such  a  rarity,  and  I  hope  it 
will  soon  cease  to  be  so,     (Hear,  hear.) 

Lord  KiNKAiED  :  The  Yoimg  Women's  Christian  Association  has 
lor  some  time  had  a  special  branch  for  young  ladies  which  is  being 
worked  very  successfully,  and  the  great  object  of  which  is  to  get  at  that 
special  class  who  go  right  on  from  there  to  the  public  school,  and 
thence  to  the  university. 

Dr.  Hall  :  I  only  rise  to  express  the  hope  that  we  shall  have  the 
advantage  at  this  Convention  of  some  statement  regarding  the  cha- 
racter and  working  of  Welsh  Sunday  schools.  They  are  the  only  schools 
knowia  to  nie  that  come  up  to  the  idea  that  has  been  put  into  words 
again  and  again  at  this  Convention,  namely  that  the  whole  church 
may  so  instruct  its  members  that  all  may  work  together  in  unity  and 
to  the  edification  of  one  another. 

Dr.  TuLTON  :  I  have  lately  been  in  France  and  in  Italy,  and  I  am 
sorry  to  say  that  hardly  any  children  of  the  upper  classes  in  these 
countries  have  been  reached  and  instructed  in  God's  Word,  nor  do  I 
tliink  that  any  effort  is  being  made  to  reach  them.  You  were  talking 
just  now  about  India.  I  shoidd  like  to  know  why  you  do  not  set  a  man 
going  in  Italy  ;  he  would  very  soon  start  a  Sunday  school.  They  have 
a  noble  king  out  there  who  wovdd  render  every  assistance ;  he  is  an 
example  to  his  country,  and  the  difficulty  would  not  be  so  great  as  you 
might  imagine  ;  the  people  would  say  we  can  afford  to  study  the  Word 
of  God  because  our  good  Kmg  Humbert  leads  the  way. 

The  proceedmgs  then  terminated  by  singing  of  the  doxology  and  the 
benediction. 


C    -10    ) 


FOURTH  PAY— TENTH  SEtSSiON. 

Friday  Morning,  July  5tu. 
THE    WOKK    EXTENDED. 

REASONS  FOR  EXTENSION, 
Colonel    Gkii^fin    {President   of   the  London   Baptist   Association) 
occupied  the  Chaii-  at  the  earlier  part  of  the  sitting,  and  the  President 
(l^Ir.  Belsey)   later.     There   was   the  usual  introductory  serricc  ot 
praise  and  prayer. 

TPIE  FIELD  TBAT  INVITES  US. 
By  tlie  Eey.  Dr.  Macfadyen  {Manchester,  JEn[i). 
True  progress  never  despises  the  past.     Reform  always  tries  to  com- 
prehend the  existing  system  and  to  understand  how  it  has  come  to  be 
what  it  is.    FuUy  to  deal  with  my  subject,  therefore,  would  reqmre  that 
I  should  pass  in  review  the  history  of  the  Sunday  school.    But  aU  here 
are  more  or  less  familiar  with  the  story,  and  I  am  entitled  to  assume 
that  that  part  of  the  paper  has  been  dealt  with.     Necessarily,  the 
Sunday  school  can  never  again  be  a  day  school  held  on  Sunday  or,  at 
best    the  place  where   the   children  were  assembled  and  marched  to 
church.     It  can  never  again  be  an  agency  conducted  by  paid  teacW, 
these  teachers  appointed  too  often  by  people  who  supposed  that  anybody 
was  good  enough  to  be  a  teacher.     In  our  new  cu-cumstances  we  arc 
required  to  look  round  and  ask.  What  changes  can  be  made  m  the 
Sunday  school?     What  are  its  essential  and  what  its  accidental  tea- 
tiu-es  ?     How  much  that  characterized  the  school  in  the  past  must  we 
carry  into  the  future  ? 

I. 
The  fh-st  Sunday  school  was  a  mission  agency.  The  first  Simday 
.chool  teachers,  in  the  words  of  David  Stow,  took  to  deep  sea  fishmg 
They  found  that  it  was  aU  but  useless  to  attempt  the  reformation  ot 
thea<^ed.  A  man  is  either  a  fool  or  a  physician  at  forty.  Few  change 
their°opinions,  still  less  theii-  habits,  after  forty.  The  task  of  convertmg 
old  men  and  women  is  the  task  of  taming  the  lion,  of  wntmg  on 
..ranite,  of  moulding  the  rock  with  your  fingers.     What  young  John 


300  Iteafinns  for  Extensiiov, 

will  not  leavn,  old  John  cannot  learn.  The  first  Sunday  school  teachers 
resolved  to  try  what  conld  be  done  with  the  young,  and  the  wisdom  of 
their  action  has  been  justified  by  the  resiilts  we  see  to-day.  The 
church  at  home  has  found  no  mission  agency  as  profitable  as  this. 
Before  Satan  could  fill  the  bushel  with  tares  Sunday  schools  have  filled 
it  with  wheat.  Naj',  in  hundreds  of  cases  in  the  Western  States  of 
America  and  in  the  manufacturing  districts  of  England,  notably  in 
Lancashire  and  the  "West  Eiding  of  Yorkshire,  the  Sunday  school  has 
been  the  germ  out  of  which  have  grown  the  congregation  and  the 
church.  We  ask,  Is  the  missionary  work  of  the  Sunday  school  ended  ? 
We  must  answer  "  No."  The  Sunday  school  must  say  in  the  words  of 
Napoleon,  "  Conquest  made  me  and  conquest  must  maintahi  me." 
There  is  as  much  reason  as  ever  for  the  school  in  this  province. 

If  I  draw  my  first  illustration  of  this  remark  from  our  large 
towns  as  a  field  for  the  mission  work  of  the  school,  it  is  not  that  I 
believe  that  there  is  no  field  for  such  efi'ort  in  the  country.  It  is  simply 
because  I  am  most  famihar  with  large  towns.  The  sayings  that  are  so 
often  quoted  on  this  point — that  of  Cowper,  "  God  made  the  country 
and  man  made  the  town ;  "  and,  again, "  When  I  am  in  the  country  I 
beUeve  in  God,  but  when  I  am  in  the  city  I  believe  in  the  devil ;"  such 
sayings  are  true  so  far  as  the  statistics  of  morality  and  religion  help  us 
to  a  conclusion,  only  iii  a  mochfied  sense.  But  there  cannot  be  a  doubt 
that  the  moment  you  enter  the  large  town  or  city  you  are  struck  as  you 
are  not  in  the  country  with  the  exclusion  of  the  extremes  of  the  popu- 
lation from  access  to  rehgious  services  and  religious  influences.  More 
than  that,  vice  exists  in  the  city  in  combination,  whereas  in  the  country 
it  is  solitary,  while  by  this  combination  in  the  city  sin  is  kept  in  coun- 
tenance, and  presents  a  solid  front  of  opposition.  More  than  that, 
guilt  is  concealed  in  the  city  more  easily  than  in  the  country.  But 
chiefly  the  temjDtations  to  sin  in  the  city  contemplate  the  young  in  a 
pectxhar  fashion.  Every  vice  looks  to  them  for  patronage.  Ten  thou- 
sand snares  are  spread  in  theii*  path.  Go  into  our  streets  at  any  time 
and  see  the  swarms  of  children  that  come  from  the  lairs  of  vice,  scores 
of  lads  and  lasses  idling  away  theii*  time,  and  thus  tempting  the  tempter. 
Eollow  them  to  then'  sleeping  places  (liomes  they  have  none),  listen  to 
their  conversation,  make  yom'self  familiar  with  the  manner  in  which 
they  spend  then-  time,  and  your  heart  will  be  as  deeply  stuTcd  as  \^■as 
that  of  Robert  Eaikes  when  he  determined  to  do  what  he  could  for 
the  children  of  Gloucester.  Far  from  there  bemg  any  question  in  my 
mind  as  to  the  necessity  of  a  mission  school,  it  is  clear  that  in  this 
province  it  is  only  beginning  its  work. 

But  tliis  is  not  the  only  fonn  in  which  the  Sunday  school  must 
contmue  and  extend  its  mission  work.  There  is  another  class  at  the 
other  extreme  of  society  which  is  as  inaccessible  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
The  heathen  are  in  St.  James's  as  well  as  in  St.  Giles's  in  London ;  in 
the  Eifth  Avenue  as  well  as  in  the  Eive  Points,  in  New  York ;  in 
Aigburth  as  in  Scotland  Road  in  Liverpool ;  in  Whalley  Range  as  in 


Tlir  Flrld  Ihill   iliriirs  IIS.  30  i 

Aiu-Oiitus  ill  Muiichcster  ;  in  HilUiL-ad  as  in  the  Salt  Markft,  (jiusijow  ; 
in  the  New  City  as  in  the  Old  City  in  Edinburgh.  Vice,  it  is  true,  is 
flothedin  splendour,  but  a  spirit  reigns  throughout  these  districts  which 
knows  no  God  but  pleasure.  We  arc  in  danger  of  forgetting  in  these 
days  when  we  hear  so  much  of  the  destitution  of  the  masses  that  rich 
men's  children  need  the  Gospel  as  certainly  as  poor  men's  children,  that 
tlie  Gospel  is  as  precious  to  tlieni  as  to  the  poor,  and  that  Christ  is  as 
willing  to  receive  the  one  as  the  other.  It  is  as  true  of  ikeir  households 
as  of  any  other  that  the  wings  of  the  Holy  Dove,  the  symbol  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  are  not  yet  weary  and  faint ;  and  that  the  neglect  of  their  parents 
appeals  to  our  compassion  as  does  the  ncglectof  the  parents  of  the  poor. 
"Is  the  poor  man's  neglected  child,"  asks  Sir  C.  Reed,  "more  dan- 
gerous to  society  than  the  prodigutc  son  of  the  wealthy  man  ?"  If  we 
are  justified  in  lifting  the  latch  of  the  poor  man's  cottage,  why  should 
we  avoid  the  rich  man's  mansion  ?  This  wc  "  know  that  it  is  not  the 
will  of  om"  Father  Wlio  is  in  heaven  that  one  of  these  little  ones  sh.ould 
perish."  Here  is  a  field  almost  mitried,  a  hai-vest  as  yet  almost  iin- 
reaped,  warranting  iis  in  maintaining  that  there  is  scope  for  the 
extension  of  the  school  as  a  mission  agene_v. 

Then  between  these  two  extremes  there  are  our  own  children,  tlie 
chilcb-en  of  the  church,  the  children  of  the  covenant,  children  of  many 
prayers,  children  of  ministers  and  deacons  and  elders  and  stewards  and 
members.  How  often  theii*  future  disappoints  ns !  Is  it  not  too  often 
the  case  with  them  that  the  nearer  the  chiu-ch  the  fiu-ther  from  grace  ? 
The  histories  of  the  Old  Testament  are  repeated.  "  The  sons  of  Eli  were 
wicked  men,  they  knew  not  the  Lord."  "The  sons  of  Samuel  walked 
not  in  his  ways,  but  turned  aside  after  lucre."  The  statistics  that  have 
been  compiled  on  this  part  of  our  subject  are  startling.  A  few  years  ago 
tlie  late  Mr.  Mander  of  Wolverhampton  issued  a  cu-cular  addressed  to 
a  large  number  of  ministers.  He  received  replies  from  the  representa- 
tives of  3S-1.  churches,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  40,37'1. 
members.  But  only  2i  per  cent,  of  the  membership  was  tinder  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  only  one  member  in  505  was  imder  fom-teen  years  o 
age.  This  result,  serious  as  it  is,  becomes  more  serious  still  when  wo 
analyse  the  retmnis.  Eor  then  it  appears  that,  leaving  out  twelve 
cliurches  in  which  the  number  of  young  members  is  much  greater  than 
in  the  rest,  the  proportion  in  the  remaining  372  churches  is  only  one 
member  in  fiftj',  or  about  2  per  cent,  between  eighteen  and  fourteen 
years  of  age.  Still  further,  it  is  added  that  191  churches  (40  of  the  larger 
and  151  of  the  smaller)  have  not  a  single  member  imder  fourteen  years 
of  age.  No  one  can  hear  of  such  results  without  de]jloring  them. 
Ti'ue  there  are  certain  considerations  that  warrant  the  conclusion  tliat 
things  are  not  actually  as  bad  as  these  figures  would  lead  us  to  suppose. 

When  the  Church  (Dr.  Conder  says  in  bis  address  from  the  chair  of 
the  Congregational  Union)  like  the  State  is  charged  with  having  neg- 
lected its  children  let  it  be  remembered  that  the  Church  like  the  State 
may  do  mischief  by  overreaching  its  duty  as  well  as  coming  short  of  it. 


302  lieasons  for  Extension. 

The  family  is  as  cliviue  an  institution  as  the  church, — and  okler ;  the 
command  to  train  np  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord  is  given  not  to  the  church  but  to  parents  ;  the  piety  of  the  child  is 
a  tender  as  well  as  a  beautiful  plant ;  let  it  grow  in  tlie  sacred  shade  and 
gentle  niu-ture  of"  home."  Beware  how  you  transplant  it  too  early  into 
tlie  glare  of  publicity  lest  it  droop  and  withei*,  or  be  stimulated  into 
premature  and  unnatural  fruitfulness  before  its  root  is  deep  or  its  wood 
is  firm.  A  wise  delay  may  nurse  it  for  a  fairer,  stronger,  more  fruitful 
growth  in  after-years.  It  might  fairly  be  asked  again  of  our  churches 
whether  they  have  made  the  entrance  to  the  fellowship  as  easy  for 
children  as  Christ  has  made  the  entrance  to  the  kingdom.  Still  more 
earnestly  it  may  be  asked  of  Christian  parents  why  there  are  so  few 
of  their  children  sitting  at  their  sides  when  they  commemorate  the 
dying  love  of  Christ,  and  whether  they  have  dealt  fau'ly  by  the  religious 
training  of  then'  children  or  by  the  legitimate  demands  of  Christ  and 
the  church  for  Christian  service  in  the  domain  that  is  pccidiarly  their 
own. 

But  when  all  deductions  have  been  made,  and  as  many  more  as 
may  be  suggested,  the  fact  that  there  are  churches  without  a  single 
child  member,  and  other  chm-ches  in  which  there  are  only  two  young 
people  for  every  himdred  adults,  settles  the  question  wliich  we  are  dis- 
cussing, that  there  is  a  place  still  for  the  mission  work  of  the  school. 
If  the  Sunday  school  teacher  is  not  to  supersede  the  parent,  as  most 
assuredly  he  ought  not  to  supersede  him,  may  he  not  co-operate  here 
with  the  parent  ?  Sometimes  the  heart  of  the  child  will  open  to  the 
stranger,  when  timidity  or  famdiarity  keeps  it  shut  agaiust  the  parent. 
Sometimes  the  teacher  wdl  be  heard  when  he  speaks  the  word  of  reproof 
or  encouragement  or  counsel  or  warning  which  the  parent  has  not  at 
hand.  Sometimes  the  teacher  may  have  the  key  to  open  tlie  lock  which 
the  pai-ent  cannot  move.  Nay,  sometimes  the  parent  is  incompetent, 
wliilst  the  teacher  is  competent.  There  is  a  fallacy  in  the  argument  so 
often  used,  that  home  instruction  is  superior  to  every  other.  If  it  means 
that  parents,  other  things  being  equal,  are  able  to  teach  their  own 
children  better  than  a  stranger,  it  is  a  truism ;  but,  if  it  means  that 
every  parent  can  teach  better  than  every  stranger,  it  is  not  true.  The 
mere  fact  that  a  man  is  a  father,  or  a  woman  a  mother,  does  not  make 
liim  or  her  famihar  with  Christ,  earnest,  prayerful,  faithful,  apt  to 
learn,  apt  to  teach.  Here,  then,  is  scope  for  an  extension  of  the  mission 
agency  of  the  Simday  school. 

II. 

But,  beyond  aiid  above  the  work  of  conrersion,  the  scliool  hag 
graduall  enlarged  the  area  of  its  influence.  In  all  evangelistic  agency 
the  teacher  treads  close  on  the  heels  of  the  preacher.  The  evangehsfc 
becomes  the  pastor. 

Since  undertakuig  to  AVi-ite  this  paper  I  have  put  myself  in  commu- 
nication witli  former  scholars  of  my  own  schools,  and  I  have  looked  up 


The  FlvUl  thai  Iniilrs  us.  303 

old  jncuioraiidii  in  oi-dcr  tliul  1  miglit  be  able  to  j)Vit  some  facts  from 
tlie  8cholar.s'  standi)oint. 

Hero  are  some  of  the  criticisms  with  which  I  have  been  favoured  as 
ivasons  for  ceasing  from  attendance  at  Sunday  School : — 

(rt.)  I  do  not  care  to  go  to  listen  to  a  teacher  who  looks  at  his  watcli 
forty  times,  and  tells  me  to  repent  twenty  times  in  thirty  minutes. 
(b.)  The  average  Sunday  school  teaelicr  is  below  mediocrity, 
(c.)  All  teaclicrs  regard  then*  scliolars  as  wretched  and  misguided 
youths,  to  whom  it  is  a  necessity  to  administer  the  same  dreadful 
warnings  from  Sunday  to  Sunday. 

(cl.)  Teachers  who  profess  to  be  solicitous  for  our  well-being  on  Sun- 
day totally  ignore  us  duiung  the  week.  We  thhik  that  ihe^  liave  only 
"  Sunday  religion." 

(e.)  Where  the  teacher  is  a  man  of  education,  he  is  rarely  cut  out 
for  teaching.  Teaching  needs  wonderful  tact.  It  calls  for  consum- 
mate self-control ;  it  requires  great  knowledge  of  boy-nature,  of  what 
ought  to  be  taught  and  of  how  it  is  to  be  imparted  in  an  interesting 
manner. 

(y.)  Very  often  the  teacher  unites  in  his  own  person  ignorance  and 
incompetence.  In  place  of  teaching  he  deals  out  second-hand  notes 
from  worthless  commentaries. 

(jj.)  It  will  be  noticed  that  among  city  missionaries  those  who  go 
about  with  a  basket  of  provisions  are  the  most  succcssfid  in  tlieir 
spiritual  appeals.  And  so  it  is  with  Sunday  school  teaching ;  tlie  other 
wants  of  the  scholars  must  be  attended  to.  There  ouglit  to  be  debating 
societies,  cricket  clubs,  rambling  clubs,  so  as  to  open  the  way  to  the 
hearts  of  yoimg  men. 

(//..)  The  teacher  ought  to  be  a  man  of  God  and  a  man  of  tlie  world 
nt  the  same  time. 

(i.)  Teacliers  take  little  or  no  interest  hi  tlieu'  scholars  durhig  tho 
week. 

(A-.)  A  teacher  must  not  expect  his  scliolnr?  to  listen  ])atiently  to 
dry  theology.  He  sliould  take  pains  to  give  ideas  wliich,  if  old,  should 
not  be  stale,  and  which,  if  new,  must  not  savour  of  heresy. 

Now,  much  of  this  criticism  is  crude  enough.  Of  coiu-se,  I  do  not 
endorse  it  all  myself.  But  it  is  interesting  because  it  enforces  and  illus- 
trates the  change  of  attitude  wliich  has  taken  place  on  the  i)art  of  the 
scholar,  and  which  necessitates  a  change  in  the  attitude  of  the  teaclier. 
The  old  Brown  Bess  is  useless  in  an  age  of  weapons  of  precision. 
The  Sunday  school  might  change  its  name,  and  be  called  the  "  Bible 
school."  The  Sunday  school  is  the  only  school  in  the  world  in  which 
the  Bible  is  the  sole  and  imiversal  text-book.  Even  if  all  our  scholars 
were  Chi-istians,  the  necessity  of  Bible  study  woidd  make  the  Sunday 
school  a  necessity.  In  other  words,  the  teacher  has  become  a  pastor  as 
well  as  an  evangeUst.     Ileuce  tlie  need  of  intelligence. 

Christianity  is  a  book  religion.  This  differences  it  at  once  from  the 
religions  it  superseded.     "The  priests  of  the  elder  idolatries  could  as 


304:  Reasons  fur  Hxtensiun. 

easily  teacli  cookery  as  religion,"  says  De  Quineey.  I  might  add  that 
probably  he  coidd  have  taught  cookery  better  than  religion.  Give  hira 
a  good  roast,  well-baked  cakes,  abundance  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  his 
ambition  was  satisfied.  But  the  teacher  of  Christ  is  not  a  priest.  With 
the  Bible  as  his  text-book,  he  must  read,  must  think,  must  expound. 
It  is  an  error  to  deal  with  the  Bible  in  separate  parts.  You  might 
as  well  dream  of  gauging  a  river  by  a  drop,  or  a  building  by  a  stone . 
Single  unconnected  texts  are  often  dangerous  half  truths  or  positive 
untruths.  "  Texts  of  Scripture,"  says  Dr.  Donne,  "are  like  the  hairs  in  a 
horse's  tail ;  unite  them  and  they  conciu*  in  one  root  of  strength  and 
beauty,  but  take  them  separately  and  they  can  be  used  only  as  snares 
and  springes  to  catch  woodcocks." 

And,  if  the  natiu-e  of  the  text  book  demands  mental  activity  on  the 
part  of  the  teacher,  the  nature  of  the  human  mind  equally  enforces  the 
same  demand.  Bishop  Huntingdon  says  well :  "  The  mind  is  as  active 
in  acquiring  or  properly  receiving  as  in  communicating.  The  old  notion 
that  the  business  of  education  is  to  force  facts  into  the  pupil's  memory 
as  oranges  are  dropped  into  a  box,  or  as  merchandise  is  stowed  in  the 
hold  of  a  ship,  is  effectually  exploded.  The  maxim  of  all  education 
that  deserves  the  name  is,  rouse  the  faculties,  sharpen  the  percep- 
tions, spread  out  the  orderly  phenomena  of  natm-e  and  history,  and 
let  the  hungry  and  discriminating  intellect  take  hold.  Knowledge  is 
not  properly  acquu'ed  till  it  is  assimilated,  taken  up  into  the  soul' 3 
chyle,  and  blood,  and  fibre,  and  made  a  part  of  the  juice  and  substance 
of  the  man.  And  this  is  no  passive  process.  It  tasks  every  energy. 
It  puts  all  the  muscles  of  the  mind  at  work.  It  sweats  its  brow.  It 
is  like  climbing  a  mountain  without  beast  or  machine  on  }  our  own 
feet." 

The  Levites  in  the  Old  Testament  made  the  people  to  imderstand 
the  sense.  In  the  commission  given  to  the  apostles  teacliing  was  to 
accompany  preaching.  It  was  by  teaching,  discussion,  disputation,  that 
Christ  attracted  His  disciples.  It  was  thus  that  the  disciples  caiTied 
His  message  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  It  is  thus  that  Christians  are  to 
be  built  up  in  their  most  holy  faith,  thus  that  truth  is  to  overcome  error, 
faith  to  get  the  better  of  scepticism,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  to  over- 
come the  enemies  of  the  Grospel.  We  say  this  of  grown-up  people ; 
we  say  it  with  the  more  confidence,  from  reasons  that  we  need  not 
dwell  upon  here,  of  childi-en,  boys  and  gii'ls,  young  men  and  maidens. 
If  this  be  a  correct  statement  of  the  case,  then  clearly  the  work  of 
the  teacher  must  be  extended,  and  in  the  future  the  school  must  use 
every  means  to  make  its  operations  efficient  intellectually.  Suffer  the 
word  of  exhortation  here.  The  weakest  part  of  our  Sunday  school  woi'k 
at  the  pi'esent  time  is  the  imperfect  realization  of  this  necessity.  I  call 
in  evidence  the  state  of  our  teachers'  preparation  classes.  I  am  com- 
pelled in  honesty  to  say  that  this  results  fi-om  mental  mei'tia  on  the 
part  of  oiu"  teachers.  These  classes  do  not  exist  at  all  in  a  large  number 
of  om'  schools,  and  where  they  do  exist  they  are  attended  by  those 


Tlw  lurid  that  liirlteH  an.  305 

wlio  noi'd  tlicm  least.  The  IimcIut.-.  uliu  would  profit  most  from  attciul- 
uiice  on  tliCije  chu-ses  are  cousiiicuous  by  their  absence. 

When,  in  addition,  it.  is  remembered  that  the  salvation  of  the  soul, 
in  the  full  sens(^  of  the  term,  ineludes  the  whole  being,  that  the  mind 
is  to  learn  knowledge  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  the  judgment  to  come  to 
its  decisions  in  the  presence  of  Christ,  tlie  memory  to  record  and  to 
represent  its  facts  in  the  si)irit  of  Christ,  tiie  imagination  to  be  jjurilied 
for  Christ,  the  will  to  come  to  its  decisions  from  love  to  Christ,  the 
hopes  and  fears  and  affections  to  bo  governed  and  regidated  bv  Christ 
— then  it  is  clear  that  the  teachei-,  in  helping  his  young  charge  to  work 
out  then*  salvation,  has  before  him  a  field  of  effort  that  is  jiraoticallv 
boundless. 

But  next  to  intelligence,  nay,  in  some  respects  superior  to  it  is  thj 
possession  of  sympathy  on  the  part  of  the  pastor.  You  remember 
Mrs.  Poyser's  description  of  the  two  parsons  of  Hayslope : — She  said 
that  Mr.  Irwmo  was  hke  a  good  meal  o'  victnal — you  were  the  better 
for  him,  without  thinking  of  it ;  and  Mr.  Eyde  was  like  a  dose  of  jihysic 
— he  gripped  you  and  worrited  you,  and,  after  all,  he  left  you  much  tlie 
same.  Such  is  tlie  difference  between  the  able  teacher  with  and  with- 
out sympathy.  Souls,  like  plants,  do  not  grow  by  reading  a  book  or 
by  making  a  speech  to  them.  They  must  have  the  air,  and  dew,  and 
sunshine  of  sympathy.  If  the  teacher  is  a  pastor,  he  will  have  sym- 
pathy with  eacli  of  his  flock.  The  good  shepherd  knoweth  his  Hock 
and  is  known  of  them.  And  there  is  no  way  of  knowinn^  them  like 
seeking  them  out  in  their  own  homes.  The  teacher  cannot  exercise  his 
pastoral  functions  to  the  full  luiless  he  knows  something  of  the  homes 
from  which  the  children  come  to  school  and  to  which  they  retui-u  after 
school.  The  teacher's  grip  will  be  all  the  stronger  if  whilst  ho  secures 
them  by  his  teaching  on  Smiday  he  holds  them  (and  then  he  will  hold 
them  without  pinching)  by  personal  intercourse  on  Satm-day. 

This  principle  which  all  accept  in  words,  though  our  male  teachers 
ahnost  luianimoiisly  deny  it  in  their  deeds,  carries  with  it  much  inoi'o 
that  is  still  a  subject  of  discussion  amongst  us.  It  endorsed  such 
recommendations  as  these  : — The  cliou-  of  the  school  will  have  its  own 
night  for  practising  music.  Every  teacher,  at  least,  of  the  elder  classes 
will  plan  that  his  class  shall  meet  (not  necessarily  always  with  him) 
for  literary  and  social  intercourse  during  the  week.  Just  as  the  church 
has  its  week-night  services — a  blessed  Siibbath  in  mid-week  at  which  it 
luiites  in  praise  and  prayer — the  school  will  have  its  week-night  meetuT^ 
(its  range  of  subjects  much  more  varied)  serving  the  same  purpose. 

Pastoral  sympathy,  in  like  manner,  carries  with  it  the  provision  by  the 
school  of  such  institutions  as  these: — The  penny  bank;  the  library 
and  reading-room  ;  the  Band  of  Hope ;  the  gynmastic  apparatus  ;  the 
frequent  tea-meeting ;  the  sick  and  burial  club ;  the  cricket  and  football 
club ;  the  mutual  improvement  society ;  the  missionary  society  meet- 
ing ;  the  Dorcas  society. 

And  I  may  add  accessory  institutions  such  as  have  engaged  your 


306  Heasons  for  Extension. 

attention  this  week  : — Primai-y  classes  ;  adulfc  classes  ;  recreative  even- 
ing classes  ;  pleasant  Snnday  afternoons  ;  home  reading  circles ;  boys' 
brigade  ;  and  in  nuisical  assemblies. 

The  acceptance  of  the  pastoral  office  by  the  teacher  involves  again  for 
the  proper  carrying  out  of  its  functions  a  revision  of  our  structural 
arrangements  ;  and  these  again  an  enthe  upsetting  of  our  present  finan- 
cial methods  ;  with  an  acceptance  of  the  axiom  that  henceforth  there 
shall  be  no  rivalry  between  church  and  school,  no  contention  between 
minister  and  superintendent,  no  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  teaclicr  to 
re"-ard  himself  as  the  servant  and  agent  of  the  church  fii-st,  and  of  tlio 
school  afterwards. 

If  there  is  any  one  disposed  to  demur  to  the  principles  I  have  been 
advocatmg  this  morning,  or  to  the  terms  in  which  I  have  illustrated 
then'  application,  on  the  ground  that  the  ideal  is  too  high,  and  that  I 
have  been  only  painting  a  picture,  I  reply,  No  ideal  is  worth  presenting 
that  is  easily  realized. 

In  addition  I  may  add,  if  there  is  a  spy  amongst  ns  who  has  gone  up 
with  me  to  the  goodly  land,  and  is  disposed  to  bring  back  the  report 
that  the  Anakim  are  there,  that  the  cities  are  walled  np  to  heaven, 
and  that  the  walls  cannot  be  scaled,  that  we  have  already  amongst  ns 
some  who  have  brought  back  clusters  as  of  the  grapes  of  Esheol  which 
assure  ns  that  it  is  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  lioney. 

But  I  am  content  to  remind  you  in  conclusion  that  a  forward  step 
must  be  taken  on  the  simple  commonplace  ground  that  our  young 
people  must  be  secured,  because  they  are  the  hope  of  our  cluu'ches. 
The  men  who  have  left  behind  them  the  richest  legacy  of  wisdom  and 
inlluence  in  the  chm'ch  of  the  past ; — the  men  on  whom  we  depend 
with  greatest  confidence  in  the  churches  of  the  present  day,  as  rooted 
and  grounded  in  the  faith,  not  carried  about  with  every  wind  of 
doctrine,  bearing  and  willing  to  bear  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day, 
are  the  Timothies  who  in  their  youth  were  prayed  for  by  Lois,  trained 
by  Eunice,  and  disciplined  by  Paul. 

"  If  you  have  ever  lived  in  a  hiUy  country,  you  must  have  noticed 
the  contrast  in  its  appearance  after  a  storm.  The  hills  are  whitened 
by  innumerable  silver  threads.  These  are  the  many  streams  that  pour 
themselves  down  through  the  watercourses  and  fall  uito  the  sea.  A 
few  days  afterwards,  when  you  look,  you  can  see  only  the  one  thread 
that  is  always  there.  These  many  streams  came  in  the  night  of  rain, 
and  vanished  in  the  day  of  drought.  But  if  you  follow  the  one  stream 
you  come  to  a  place  of  springs  or  to  a  lake  where  the  rains  of  heaven 
are  garnered,  and  out  of  which  it  flows  perennially.  Here  is  the  secret 
of  the  diJierence.  It  has  its  soui'ce  in  this  reservou-,  and  hence  it  con- 
tinues to  flow  all  the  year  round,  by  day  and  night,  in  summer  time 
and  m  winter  time,  there  in  the  uplands  leaping  precipices,  as  if  in 
the  play  of  sportive  youth,  there  below  in  the  quiet  meadows,  refreshhig 
the  green  grass,  and  giving  drink  to  the  cattle,  delighting  yom'  eye 
with  its  crystal  pureuess,  and  your  ear  with  its  gentle  song.    And  when 


Tho  Fk'ld  that  hnutes  us.  307 

you  have  left  its  margin,  and  tlicre  is  no  one  near  to  look  or  listen,  still 
it  is  there,  smiling  back  to  the  sun  from  its  many  dimpled  pools,  or 
singing  quiet  music  to  the  listening  stars. 

Sucli  arc  our  children  in  tlie  Sunday  school,  children  of  our  families, 
scholars  in  our  schools,  as  sources  of  continuous  aiul  refreshing  supply 
in  tho  church  of  Christ.  Other  streams  there  are  that  add  to  tho 
number  and  influence  of  our  churches,  and  we  arc  grateful  for  them. 
Sometimes  they  seem  larger  in  volume  aud  louder  in  soimd  than  this. 
But  they  are  not  always  fidl.  They  are  not  always  loud.  Sometimes, 
though  overflowing  to-day,  they  ai-e  dried  up  to-morrow.  If  wo  could 
secure  an  intelligent  piety  amongst  om-  children,  if  wo  could  realize 
tho  saying  of  Richard  Baxter,  the  veteran  Nonconformist,  that  there 
eliould  be  no  adults  converted  in  a  country  hke  England,  because  all 
the  children  were  brought  to  Christ  when  they  were  young,  each  family 
and  each  class  would  thou  become  a  foimtain  supplying  year  by  year 
un  ever-flowmg  stream,  whose  waters,  even  when  hidden  from  sight, 
might  be  traced  by  green  banks,  fertile  fields,  and  fruit-laden  trees. 

i?j/  PlOv.  C.  H.  Woodeufp  {Black  Roclc,  Connecticut,  U.S.A.). 

At  noon  one  day  last  spruig  the  fu-st  inhabitant  reached  the  town  of 
Guthrie,  in  Oklahoma.  By  nightfall  the  population  had  risen  to  nearly 
15,000.  Witli  an  influx  upon  our  western  borders,  of  which  this  is  a 
phenomenal  example,  what  wonder  if  we  of  America  tuna  oiu'  faces 
westward  when  we  tliiuk  of  the  field  which  invites  us.  Certamly  there 
is  a  whitening  field  where  the  Sunday  school  must  gird  up  itself  and 
I'eap,  if  the  harvest  is  not  to  be  lost,  to  the  dishonom'  of  the  Master  and 
the  peril  of  the  chiu'ch  herself. 

But  the  occasion  invites  us  to-day  to  a  wider  view.  It  bids  vis  liaste 
east  as  well  as  west,  and  find  the  field  wliich  invites  us  literally  in  the 
world. 

It  will  save  time  and  help  clearness  if  I  say  at  the  outset  that  by  the 
term  Sunday  school  in  this  paper  I  refer  to  the  germinal  principle  of 
that  institution,  which  I  take  to  be  interlocutory  instruction  in  the 
Bible  voluntarily  imparted  by  laymen.  We  agree  that  west  and  south 
are  the  fields  which  invite  the  Sunday  school  worker.  I  want  to  call 
yom*  attention,  in  the  time  at  my  disposal,  to  certain  overlooked  featm-es 
of  the  field  and  of  the  institution  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  adapt 
it  for  use  in  heathen  and  nominally  Christian  lands. 

The  first  feature  of  the  Smiday  school  wliich  adapts  it  for  these  fields 

is  its  CONFOEMITY  TO  NeW  TESTAMENT  STANDARDS  AND  METHODS. 

Rev.  Dr.  Trumbull,  in  his  Yale  Lectm-es  on  the  Sunday  school,  says 
of  Christ's  Great  Commission,  "As  the  Jews  would  have  understood 
that  charge,  and  as  we  have  evei-y  reason  to  suppose  oiu-  Lord  meant  it, 
the  dii'ection  therein  is  to  organize  Bible  schools  everywhere  as  the  very 
basis,  the  initial  form  of  the  Christian  church;  "  and,  later,  "  the  Bible 

X  2 


808  Reasons  for  Extension, 

school  was  tlic  starting-point  of  the  Christian  church,  and  it  was  by- 
means  of  Bible  school  methods  that  the  Christian  church  was  first 
extended  and  upbuilded." 

Imperative  brevity  compels  me  to  refer  you  to  his  admirable  book  for 
the  quotations  by  which  these  statements  are  verified. 

What  I  desire  now  is  in  the  light  of  them  to  call  to  your  mind  the 
fact  which  we  are  apt  to  overlook,  that,  so  far  from  being  a  newly- 
invented  and  indifferent  adjmict  of  some  other  form  of  Christian  work, 
the  Sunday  school  has  the  Divine  sanction  as  of  the  essence  of  the 
Christian  church.  And  as  such,  with  the  sanction  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment iipon  its  methods,  the  presumption  is  it  is  adapted  for  all  fields 
for  which  the  Gospel  itself  is  adapted. 

A  f^ict  which  especially  fits  the  Smiday  school  for  use  in  nominally 
Chi-istian  lands  is  that  their  present  sad  condition  has  largely 
ARISEN  from  a  neglect  of  these  very  methods  of  Bible  study 
AND  LAY  ACTITITY.  Had  the  chm'ches  in  these  places  been  careful  to 
secm-e  that  each  rising  generation  should  be  rooted  in  Bible  instruction, 
and  that  each  Christian  behever  should  be  a  Cln-istian  worker  aggres- 
sively engaged  in  the  teaching  of  that  word  to  his  fellows,  no  force  of 
heresy  within,  nor  fiery  sword  of  Saracen  without,  would  have  been  able 
to  produce  in  those  ancient  seats  of  the  churches,  where  the  Gospel 
won  its  fu'st  and  most  distinguished  victories,  those  baneful  results, 
wrought  by  indifference  of  the  laity  on  the  one  hand,  and  an  aggressive 
sacerdotahsm  on  the  other,  wMch  we  lament  to-day. 

If  this  present  condition  has  been  produced  by  a  neglect  of  these 
methods,  how  can  it  better  be  removed  than  by  a  return  to  the  first 
love  and  the  fu-st  works  ? 

A  featiu-e  of  the  Sunday  school  which  especially  fits  it  for  use  m 
nominally  Christian  lands  is  its  capability  of  avoiding  chttrch 
prejudice.  Each  church  with  a  liistory  has  a  certain  pride  in  that 
liistory.  By  this  a  church  may  be  hermetically  sealed  against  outside 
propagandism,  while  it  would  be  openly  accessible  to  methods  of 
evangehzation,  such  as  those  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  working 
from  within  can  quicken  and  deepen  and  extend  the  spiritual  life  within 
its  borders. 

Nor  is  this  a  matter  of  conjectiu-e  and  specidation.  We  have  only  to 
look  at  what  has  been  done  in  the  State  Chm-ches  of  Germany,  Holland, 
and  Sweden  during  the  past  twenty-five  or  tliirty  years  to  catch  » 
promise  and  a  prophecy  of  what  is  possible  in  these  dii-ections  beyond  the 
limits  of  Protestantism.  Nay,  further,  in  the  ancient  Armenian  Church 
there  are  already  signs  of  an  awakening  interest  and  of  the  inaugm'ation 
of  Bible  study  within  her  own  borders.  It  does  not  seem  chimerical, 
in  -view  of  these  things,  to  iuquu-e  whether  it  is  not  possible  that  in  the 
near  futm-e  the  Greek  Chm'ch,  which  so  stui-dily  and  so  severely  resists 
ail  attempts  at  proselytism,  may  not  yet  be  open  to  an  institution, 
■which,  leaving  them  Greeks  and  Russians,  shall  lead  them  to  tbe  study 


TItr  Firld  llial  liivllcs  lis.  809 

ut' the  Woril  which  is  "able  to  make  tliem  wise  unto  snlviition."  Koi- 
should  we  too  hastily  despair  of  the  Chufch  of  Rome,  though  now  it 
seems  least  of  all  accessible  to  this  form  of  work. 

A  feature  of  the  Sunday  school  which  adapts  it,  I  might  almost  say 
deumuds  it,  for  use  in  heatlicn  lands  is  its  Capacitv  rou  multii'LYINO 

CUUISTIAN  W0UKER3. 

The  day  has  gone  by  when  the  cliurch  needs  to  pray  that  tlic  door  of 
the  heathen  world  may  be  open.  The  petition  now  shoidd  be  for  men 
and  means  to  enter  doors  -which  stare  lis  in  the  face.  The  accessibility 
of  tlio  milUons  of  China  and  Japan  is  already  an  old  story.  The  central 
region  of  the  continent  of  Africa,  wliich,  on  the  maps  of  our  boyhood, 
used  to  be  represented  by  a  blank  marked  "  unexplored,"  is  to-day  open 
to  European  enterprise  and  European  Christianity  with  more  religious 
liberty  guaranteed  by  the  contracting  treaty  powers  tlian  is  enjoyed  by 
some  parts  of  Eiu'ope.  Where  are  the  men  who  are  to  fill  these  fields 
at  once  as  they  need  to  be  filled  ?  The  seminaries  say  they  are  not  in 
lis.  The  treasuries  say  wc  have  not  the  fimds  to  send  them  if  tliey  were. 
Meanwhile  the  church  is  settling  down  into  the  deadenhig  conviction 
that  they  cannot  be  reached,  at  least  for  a  long  time  to  come.  Let  us 
not  yield  to  that  conviction  till,  like  Aladdin,  we  have  rubbed  our  lamp 
and  seen  what  the  genius  of  the  Sunday  school  can  do ;  or,  to  take  a 
more  Christian  figure,  till  we  have  taken  the  Lamp  of  the  Word  and 
seen  what  the  Spii-it  of  God  indicates  as  possible.  It  is  easier  to  stand 
still  and  find  fault  with  some  one  else  for  want  of  consecration  tlian  to 
grapple  with  a  problem  befoi-ensand  the  means  at  hand  for  its  solution. 
Erroneous  methods  may  block  progress  as  tridy  as  want  of  devotion. 
Eveu  the  energy  of  a  Chicago  man  could  not  have  gathered  this  Conven- 
tion by  methods  of  travel  in  vogue  a  centm-y  ago. 

The  question  in  this  emergency  urges  itself  upon  \is.  Did  tlie  Lord 
ever  mean  that  His  Gospel  should  be  preached  entu-ely  or  chiefiy  by 
missionaries  sent  from  one  nation  to  another  ?  Is  it  desirable  or  part  of 
His  plan  that  the  Hindoo  or  Chinese  shoidd  get  his  entii-e  knowledge  of 
Clu-istianity  through  individuals  of  other,  especially  of  occidental,  races  ? 
Ai-e  we  not  wanting  in  confidence  in  the  Bible  and  God's  Spirit  when 
we  insist  on  such  a  course  ? 

Be  that  as  it  may,  in  the  crisis  which  from  whatever  cause  is  certainly 
upon  us,  the  Sunday  school,  with  its  xmpaid  lay  co-operation,  in  the 
study  of  tlie  Bible  ofl'ers  itself  as  a  method,  and,  as  far  as  we  can  see, 
the  only  practicable  method,  of  multiplying  labourers  rapidly  enough  to 
meet  the  pressing  demand.  The  Sunday  school  gives  the  heathen  con- 
vert a  work  to  do,  which  he  can  do,  and  which  lie  was  meant  to  do  by 
his  Master,  and  by  domg  wluch  he  shall  bless  himself  as  well  as  those  he 
teaches. 

Missionary  reports  are  frequent  in  their  accounts  of  individuals  or 
small  companies  of  converts.  It  may  be  a  villager  who  has  sti-ayed  into 
tl'.e  market  town  and  heard  the  Gospel  savingly.     It  may  be  a  group 


310  lU'.asons  for  Exicusion. 

which  ii  luissionary  oil  suiiic  jjivadung  tour  I'ar  IVoui  the  luisision  station 
has  reached  and  by  God's  grace  brought  to  faith.  Wliat  is  to  be  done 
with  these  nuclei  of  Christian  life  ?  They  need  not  stand  waiting  be- 
cause no  man  has  given  theni  work  to  do.  The  Sunday  school  utilizes 
these  groups  of  Christians,  and  makes  them  Christian  ^\orkers.  They 
cannot  discuss  evolution,  but  they  can  testify  of  the  lifting  off  of  tlie 
burden  of  guilt  by  the  blood  of  Jesus.  They  can  bear  witness  of  a  new 
life  by  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  they  can  gather  a  companj'  of 
cliildren  and  adults  and  sing  with  them  the  Gospel  which  finds  entrance 
to  hardest  hearts  tlu'ough  the  vehicle  of  song  ;  they  need  not  wait  for 
the  return  of  the  missionary ;  they  can  read  witli  themselves,  and  witli 
those  they  gather,  the  Word  of  God.  And  of  an  ever-widening  circle  of 
Biblical  truth,  which  they  wiU  study  the  more  earnestly  because  they 
feel  the  responsibility  for  teaching  it,  they  can  say  to  their  scholars.  We 
have  found  this  true  which  Moses  and  the  prophets  and  psalmists  and 
evangeUsts  and  apostles  have  written.     It  is  for  you  as  it  is  for  us. 

Here,  too,  we  are  not  left  to  a  priori  reasoning.  The  letters  received 
by  the  Foreign  Svmday  School  Association,  which  is  seeking  by  corre- 
spondence the  extension  of  this  institution  tlu'oughout  the  world,  ai-e 
replete  with  testimony  to  the  appreciation  of  the  Sunday  school,  at 
least  in  some  of  its  phases,  as  an  approved  means  of  Christian  work. 
It,  by  its  very  nature,  reaches  the  children,  the  most  impressionable  and 
accessible  part  of  the  community,  at  the  time  when  they  are  most  acces- 
sible. It  sows  the  seed  of  truth  in  their  minds  before  the  ground  ia 
preoccupied  with  error  and  superstition.  From  Japan,  a  college  class- 
mate write  that  the  Sunday  school  is  more  attended  than  the  preaching 
service.  So  popular  is  it,  that  after  the  main  school  some  of  the 
scholars  go  out  to  attend  schools  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  some  of 
which  ai"e  larger  than  the  central  school.  From  Turkey,  one  who  has 
just  made  a  wide  survey  of  the  field  expresses  his  judgment  tliat  mis- 
sions have  now  reached  a  second  stage  in  theu*  progress,  when  this 
method  of  work  upon  the  children  needs  especially  to  be  pushed.  And 
in  Spain  we  have  correspondents  who,  by  several  (in  one  mstauce,  1 
believe,  fourteen)  Sunday  schools  aroimd  their  central  station  are 
duplicating  themselves  and  multiplying  the  centres  of  spu'itual 
influence. 

And  if  there  lingers  in  one's  mind  any  doubt  of  the  adaptation  of  thia 
institution  for  this  field,  from  the  fact  that  it  has  not  been  more  widely 
employed,  such  doubt  will  be  dissipated  when  we  consider  that  the 
policy  and  method  of  the  missions  have  largely  been  determined  by  the 
wisdom  and  experience  of  those  glorious  men  of  God  who  half  a  century 
ago  took  then*  lives  in  theh-  hands,  and  cut  themselves  off  fi-om  Christian 
home  and  civihzation,  that  they  might  preach  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  God's  grace  to  the  perishing  heathen.  Now,  what  were  Smiday 
schools  then  ?  They  were  just  fighting  theu"  way  to  recognition.  They 
had  not  yet  won  then-  spui-s.  It  is  no  fault  of  the  missionary;  it  is 
only  the  misfortune  incident  to  his  magnificent  consecration  that  he  is 


The  Field  that  Invites  us.  311 

not  acqiiniuted  with  the  possiljihtics  which  this  method  lias  within  it. 
The  closer  has  been  his  apphcation  to  his  field,  the  less  has  been  his 
opioovtunity  to  observe  the  change  and  improvement  of  Christian 
methods.  It  is  only  a  case  of  one  ■who  is  carrying  on  his  business  by 
pen  and  messenger,  because  he  has  had  no  chance  to  learn  of  typewi-itcr 
and  telephone. 

Closely  akin  to  the  above  is  another  fcatiu'e  of  the  Sunday  scliool, 
■which  adapts  it  for  use  in  such  fields,  namely,  its  flexibility.  It 
has  no  iron-bound  forms.  It  is  capable  of  almost  infinite  adaptation  to 
circumstances.  The  Siuiday  school,  in  the  bedroom  of  a  Bohemian 
peasant  or  tlie  farmhouse  of  a  Spanish  cottager,  is  very  different  in 
outward  appearance  fi-om  Bethany  in  Philadelphia  or  Aki-on  in  Oliio- 
But  essence  is  superior  to  form ;  and,  as  long  as  there  is  in  each  volun- 
tary lay-teaching  of  the  Bible,  oue  is  a  Sunday  school  as  well  as  the 
other.  And  tins  flexibility  of  the  Sunday  school  fits  it  for  use  in  pagoda, 
bungalow,  ki-aal,  by  awakened  Christian  or  by  recent  convert  as  well  as 
by  those  through  whose  veins  runs  the  blood  of  generations  of  Christian 
ancestry,  from  whom  they  have  received  the  tradition  and  training  in 
tlie  study  and  teaching  of  the  Word  of  God. 

The  economy  of  the  Sunday  school  also  fits  it  for  imiversal 
employment.  There  may  have  been  things  said  during  this  Conve)ition 
which  have  produced  in  some  the  feeling  of  discouragement.  They  may 
have  said,  "  This  is  magnificent,  but  it  is  impossible !  We  cannot  get 
the  money,  -we  cannot  have  the  Sunday  school."  Never  indulge  that 
feeling  for  a  moment.  It  were  better  that  tliis  Convention  had  never 
met,  grand  as  it  is,  than  that  it  shoidd  sei-ve  to  make  the  feeling  preva- 
lent that  the  Sunday  school  is  beyond  the  reach  of  aiiy  because  of  its 
costUness.  No  mstitution  is  more  economical.  "  A  minimum  of 
expense  and  a  ma.Nimum  of  benefit,"  is  Lord  Hatherly's  just  and 
epigrammatic  description  of  it.  The  late  President  Garfield  said  that  a 
log,  with  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins  on  one  end  and  a  student  on  the  other  end, 
■was  a  university.  Alter  slightly  the  terms,  and  we  may  say.  An  open 
Bible  with  one  man  teaching  it  to  another  is  a  Sunday  school.  Now, 
most  of  us  have  Bibles.  But  if  you  have  not,  and  cannot  aff'ord  to  buy 
one,  there  ai'e  societies  which  owe  theu*  existence  to  the  Sunday  school 
■which  will  give  you  one.  And,  as  for  the  men,  you  can  be  one  yourself, 
and  find  the  other,  and  there  you  have  a  Simday  school,  and  it  has  not 
cost  you  a  cent. 

I  may  say  in  passing  that,  if  you  are  really  as  hardup  as  that,  you 
can  send  your  addi-ess  and  state  your  case  to  the  Foreign  Simday  Scliool 
Association,  130,  State  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.T.,  or  I  presume  I  may  say 
the  Sunday  School  Union,  56,  Old  Bailey,  London,  and  we  will  see  what 
■we  can  do  for  the  improvement  of  your  condition. 

The  INPLTTENCE  OF  THE  SUNDAT  SCHOOL  ON  NATIONAL  LIFE  AND 
TRADE,  creatmg  a  demand  for  a  large  variety  of  supplies,  and  by  them 


312  Hcasons  fur  Exienslon. 

reduplicating  tlie  influence  of  the  worker,  is  a  feature  of  the  institution 
wliicli  commends  its  spread  at  once  to  the  Clu-istiau  who  loves  his  feUow- 
worker,  and  seeks  to  lighten  his  task  or  increase  its  fi-uitfulness,  and  to 
the  Christian  tradesman,  who  sees  in  the  extension  of  the  institution  an 
enlargement  of  his  business.  Five  hundred  thousand  dollars  will  pay 
the  bill  for  the  mission  which  gave  the  Sandwich  Islands  to  Christendom. 
Eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  represent  the  annual  profit  of  the  trade 
which  the  Clu-istianizatio]!  of  those  islands  has  called  into  existence  and 
stimulated. 

The  tendency  of  the  Sundat  school  to  embody  CnrasTiANiTT 
IN  THE  national  LIFE  is  a  featirre  often  overlooked,  which  makes  tlie 
demand  imperative  for  Sunday  schools  in  the  fields  now  under  con- 
sideration. You  cannot  calculate  the  influence  of  the  more  than  two 
miLLious  of  Simday  school  teachers  of  England  and  America  in  making 
Clii'istianity  the  power  that  it  is  in  those  countries ;  the  atmosphere 
which  then-  presence  creates  makes  exploits  easy  which  would  not  be 
dreamed  of  elsewhere.  The  strength  of  Christianity,  lauuanly  speaking, 
in  any  nation  is  not  in  the  eloquence  of  ministers,  tlie  learning  of  pro- 
fessors, or  the  stately  elegance  of  edifices.  It  is  in  the  hold  that 
Christianity  has  on  the  popular  heart.  I  know  no  more  striking 
manifestation  or  more  trustworthy  criterion  of  that  hold  than  that 
band  of  Sunday  school  teachei-s  in  the  nations  here  represented  who, 
unrecognized  and  in  obscui'ity  it  may  be,  give  week  by  week  their 
unpaid  but  invaluable  services  for  the  spread  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
Word.  They  have  identified  themselves  with  religion  by  their  efforts 
at  propagating  it.  But  now  look  beyond  the  circle  of  favom-ed  lands 
wliich  is  here  represented,  and  ask  yourselves  what  it  means  to  a  nation 
to  liave  all  Cluistianity  in  its  borders  an  exotic,  sent  to  them  fi-om  a 
foreign  nation,  propagated  by  preachers  who  are  foreigners  or  who  are 
supported  wholly  or  chiefly  by  foreign  fmids.  It  is  hard  to  calculate 
how  far  the  process  of  assimilation  with  national  life  and  consciousness 
is  retarded  by  the  national  flavoiu-  with  which  Christianity  is  associated. 
What  would  it  be  to  you  if  in  order  to  become  a  Christian  you  sus- 
pected that  yon  had  got  to  become  Scotch,  English,  or  any  other 
natiouahty  than  yom*  own? 

And  in  the  indiscriminating  violence  of  those  fi-equently  recm-ring 
popiilar  arismgs,  begotten  of  suspicion  or  antipathy  against  foreign 
influences,  the  progress  and  even  the  existence  of  Chi-istian  institutions 
is  jeopardized  by  the  hostihty,  perhaps  justifiable,  to  some  foreign 
aggression  with  which  in  the  popular  imagination  they  are  identified. 
I'ut  if  tliere  existed  in  these  nations  a  large,  important,  influential  body 
of  native  Clu-istians,  engaged  in  voluntary  Christian  work,  who  coiild 
say  to  their  fellow  natives,  "  Look  at  us.  Wo  are  of  the  same  flesh  and 
blood  as  you  are.  We  have  not  ceased  to  be  patriots  because  we  have 
become  Christians.  We  are  not  foreigners.  We  owe  no  foreign 
allegiance.     We   have  no  foreign  interests.     Tliis  Cln-istianity  is  not 


The  F'kIo  thid  IhvUcs  lis.  313 

foreign.  It  is  from  the  one  and  only  God  who  made  us  alL  It  is  from 
outside  only  because  it  is  from  above.  Do  not  identify  it  with  any 
nation.  It  is  ours  as  truly  as  theirs.  It  has  saved  us.  It  is  saving 
lis.  Wo  are  not  paid  to  preaeh  it.  We  tcaoh  it  because  we  believe  the 
Gospel  and  love  you.  And  only  because  wo  believe  the  Gospel,  and, 
loving  you,  believe  it  will  save  you  and  kee))  yon  as  it  has  us  " — what 
an  incalculable  iniluence  and  power  upon  their  fellow  iiatives  would 
such  a  body  of  men  by  their  testimony  exert  for  Christ  and  His  cause ! 
Tiieir  existence  and  then*  testimony  would  serve  to  liberate  Christianity 
from  the  handicap  of  the  jealousy  and  fear  of  the  chicanery  and  plotting 
of  political  cabinets.  Christ  would  present  Himself  to  the  human  heart 
free  from  the  entangling  alliances  of  His  professed  followers  with  the 
opium  of  Old  England  or  the  rum  of  New  England.  Now  the  Sunday 
school,  because  of  its  varied  features  which  we  have  reviewed,  sanctioned 
by  the  New  Testament,  utilizing  whatever  of  lay  activity  exists,  and 
creating  more,  improving  and  training  the  Christian  in  its  practical, 
simple,  flexible,  economical  methods  of  lay  co-operation,  tends  as  no 
otlier  institution  tends  to  the  pi-oduction  in  every  nation  where  it  is 
introduced  of  just  such  a  body  of  men  as  I  have  ontlined.  Its  full 
perfection]  demands  such  a  body,  and  in  its  progress  towards  that 
perfection  it  increasingly  supplies  its  own  demand.  It  is  desirable, 
then,  I  may  say  it  is  imperatively  demanded,  that  the  Sunday  school 
sho'.dd  everywhere  be  spread ;  pre-eminently  ai'e  heathen  lands  and 
lands  nominally  Christian  the  field  which  invites  us. 

In  view  of  these  things  can  there  not  go  out  from  this  great  and 
representative  Convention  a  suggestion  to  the  great  missionary  organi- 
zations, whether  the  time  is  not  now  ripe  for  a  yet  wider  employment 
of  this  method  of  Christian  work  in  the  fields  under  their  charge  ? 
Tiiat  it  shoidd  be  used  as  a  pioneer  for  evangelization  as  well  as  an 
adjunct  and  appendage  for  education  and  edification  ?  And  that  as 
such  a  pioneer  it  should  find  recognition  iu  their  reports  and  appro- 
priations, and  as  an  agency  of  such  power  their  workers  shoiUd  be 
tramed  in  its  wise  and  skilfid  use  ? 

And  is  it  not  possible  that  there  should  go  up  at  least  an  earnest 
prayer  to  the  great  Head  of  the  church  that  those  who  are,  with  us,  the 
professed  followers  of  Him  who  was  the  Word,  may  be  also  partakers 
with  us  in  this  method  which  He  has  Himself  appointed,  of  studying 
and  teaching  the  Word  wliich  testifies  of  Him  and  of  bringing  othei-s  to 
Him  of  whom  it  witnesses  ? 

[At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings  certain  resolutions  which  had  been 
considered  by  the  executive  committee  were  submitted  for  adoption  by 
the  Convention.  These  resolutions,  together  with  a  letter  from  the 
Hon.  S.  H.  Blake,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  regretting  his  inability  to 
accept  the  honour  conferred  upon  him  as  President  of  the  Convention, 
will  be  found  iu  the  Appendix.] 


•  1-i  Heasons  for  Extension. 


THE  MEANS  TO  BE  ADOPTED. 

i?j/  Kcv.  C.  II.  Kelly  {Secretary  Weslei/an  Methodist  Stindai/  School 

Uiiio)i). 

Mr.  Woodruff  recognized  that  we,  in  this  country,  had  something 
to  do  with  this  great  subject.  Dr.  Macfadyen  said  the  matter  touched 
England,  as  weU  as  America.  Having  spent  not  more  than  three 
months  in  America,  and,  therefore,  being  fidly  quahfied  to  say  every- 
tliiug  about  the  country,  I  will  assiime  that  the  Convention  regards  me 
as  wise  as  I  need  to  be !  Consequently,  I  say  no  more  on  that  point, 
and  leave  Mr.  Jacobs  to  deal  with  the  case  of  America.  But,  so  far 
as  England  is  concerned,  I  should  like  to  say  that,  although  we  are 
not  a  very  great  nation  in  comparison  with  America,  so  far  as  concerns 
size,  we  haA^e  a  great  interest  in  this  subject. 

On  board  one  of  the  Atlantic  steamers  last  year,  I  was  in  con- 
versation with  an  American  gentleman.  He  was  an  old  bachelor, 
and  a  pessimist.  He  said  some  very  strong  things  respecting  the 
present  state  of  the  world.  He  seemed  to  be  of  opinion  that  we  were 
being  very  fast  backed  into  the  dark  ages.  I  held  that,  so  far  as  this 
country  was  concerned,  there  was  not  much  ground  for  fear,  upon  a 
certain  matter  that  he  mentioned,  viz.,  the  coming  back  of  the  Romish 
power  and  the  Inquisition.  He  said,  "  England  is  such  a  little  place 
that  it  eomits  for  nothing  m  a  matter  of  this  kind."  But,  little  as 
England  is,  it  counts  for  somethmg  in  this  Sunday  school  work.  The 
field  is  ah'eady  large,  but  it  needs  extension  and  culture.  We  need  to 
devise  means  for  the  extension  of  the  field,  and  for  the  better  carrying 
on  of  the  work  we  have  in  hand.  Something  was  said  this  morning  in 
regard  to  villages.  That  is  just  one  of  the  points  that  we  need  to  consider 
in  England  to-day.  There  never  was  more  danger  to  English  life, 
morals,  and  religion,  in  reference  to  the  villages,  than  there  is  at  this 
moment.  Ministers  and  churches  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  this 
country  recognize  the  importance  of  small  schools  in  villages  and 
in  hamlets,  and,  these  neglected,  the  great  centres  of  tlie  kingdoni  will 
suffer  very  greatly. 

The  tendency  of  the  day  is  for  the  cities  to  absorb  the  life  of  the 
rural  districts.  Young  England  is  flocking  to  London,  Manchester, 
Liverpool,  and  other  big  cities,  not  always  for  then-  own  good,  not 
always  for  the  good  of  the  cities.  Unless,  while  they  are  in  the  hands 
of  Chi'istian  people  in  the  Sunday  schools  of  the  villages,  they  are 
wisely  and  well  taught,  they  will  go  to  the  great  centres  of  population, 
not  only  to  get  no  good  but  to  do  no  good.  This  means  falling  into 
mischief,  and  gi-eat  evil.  Therefore,  to-day,  we  need  to  encom-age  our 
friends  in  the  small  villages  of  this  coimtry,  and  to  see  to  it  that  the 
churches  there  are  well  helped  as  far  as  they  require  to  be  helped,  by 


Thr  Mcdiis  Id  he  Adojilfil.  '515 

money,  by  syiiii)atli3-,  iiiul  by  piT.soiiiil  hibour.  In  ii  large  miniber 
of  villnges,  within  touch  of  the  cities,  Acry  much  might  bo  done  by 
yomig  men  and  others  going  out  to  tlie  villages  to  help  those  at  work 
there. 

I  know  it  is  said  that  this  sort  of  work  does  not  seem  to  pay,  and 
that  men  get  discouraged.  But  that  is  an  old  story.  When  Mr.  Wesley 
sent  his  early  preachers  into  the  country  places  of  this  land,  they  hud 
sotl  experience  with  reference  to  food,  shelter,  and  payment.  He  sent 
a  very  notable  man  into  a  very  sparse  country,  and  Mr.  Bradburn, 
that  early  Methodist  preacher  of  considerable  fame,  wrote  to  Mr. 
Wesle}-,  and  said  to  him  he  was  quite  willing  to  do  work  even  in 
such  a  place  as  that ;  but  still  even  good  men  may  sing  the  line  of  the 
hymn,  "  We  still  our  bodies  feel."  It  is  quite  a  mistake  to  suppose, 
because  you  are  pious,  you  never  get  hungry.  Therefore  he  wrote  to 
Mr.  Wesley  and  said,  "  I  must  go  back  to  my  trade,  for,  though  here 
they  give  me  plenty  of  work,  I  get  too  little  to  eat."  Wesley  wrote 
this  laconic  letter — "  My  dear  Sam,  trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good) 
so  shalt  thou  dwell  in  the  land  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed."  But 
Wesley  was  not  a  man  who  felt  that  he  had  done  his  duty  when  he  had 
quoted  texts  of  Scripture ;  so,  in  addition  to  that,  he  sent  a  couple  of 
crisp  bank-notes,  which  were  pleasant  to  Mr.  Bradburn's  touch.  Mr. 
Bradburn  acknowledged  them  in  the  following  terms  : — "  Reverend  Sir, 
I  have  often  been  struck  with  the  beauty  of  the  passage  quoted  in  your 
letter  to-day,  but  until  now  I  have  never  had  such  valuable  expository 
notes  upon  it." 

We  may  now  send  that  text  of  Scripture  to  a  great  many  small 
schools  and  hard  workers  in  them.  We  may  say  to  them,  "  Dwell  in 
the  land,  stick  to  your  posts,  do  your  duty ; "  but,  if  necessary,  we 
must  be  prepared,  froni  the  great  centres  of  population  and  from 
I'eligious  churches,  to  do  sometliing  more  than  at  present.  Happily 
wo  are  doing  something  more.  The  workers  in  these  villages  are  ill 
provided  in  the  matter  of  Uterature.  Great  institutions  in  this  coimtrv 
ai*e  at  least  furnishing  them  with  a  good  deal  of  lesson  help ;  and  in 
this  way  we  shall  do  these  village  schools  good.  But  the  point  touched 
upon  by  Dr.  Macfadyen  this  morning  is  of  very  great  importance,  so 
far,  at  any  rate,  as  tliis  country  is  concerned. 

We  need  to  care  for  the  field  within  reach  of  us  representing  the 
work  to  be  done  among  the  children  of  our  own  chiu'ches  and  congre- 
gations. That  is  a  much  neglected  work.  Some  months  ago  I  said  to 
a  gentlema)!  from  the  other  side  of  the  water,  "I  suppose  yom-  schools 
in  the  United  States  are,  taken  as  a  whole,  much  superior  to  ours." 
He  replied,  "I  do  not  know  that."  He  had  been  a  great  deal  in 
England.  He  added,  "  I  think  the  Americans  would  have  a  great  deal 
to  leani  if  they  studied  some  of  the  British  methods  and  British 
schools."  I  said  that  was  not  what  I  was  prepared  to  hear.  But  I 
remarked,  "  What  is  it  that  strikes  you  ?  "  He  mentioned  several 
things,  but  this  first  of  all :  "  We  have  not  the  same  Robert  Raikes' 


316  lieasons  for  ExfeiisiviL 

idea  guiding  us  that  you  have  in  Enghind.  Kobert  Raikes'  idea  was 
to  sweep  outcast  children  into  the  schools.  We  have  mission  schools, 
but  if  you  go  tlirough  the  States  you  will  notice  that  in  the  large 
number  of  schools  neai'ly  all  the  scholars  are  well  dressed,  and  very 
much  the  children  of  the  congregations  than  of  the  streets." 

Be  that  so  or  not,  it  enables  me  to  make  this  i-emark.  If  it  be  so,  it 
were  well  to  cultivate  more  of  the  missionary  work  in  the  States.  So 
far  as  we  ai-e  concerned,  it  marks  distinctly  one  of  the  weak  places  in 
our  schools.  We  have  large  numbers  of  the  cliildren  of  the  poorest  of 
tlie  2)oor ;  we  have  too  few  of  the  children  of  the  congregations,  and 
that  is  a  great  mistake  in  the  English  churches  of  to-day.  You  may 
depend  upon  it,  if  we  get  the  notion  that  missionary  work  means  only 
work  among  the  lowest  of  the  low,  if  we  think  it  is  more  important  to 
save  the  children  of  the  slums  and  the  people  of  the  slums  than  it  is  to 
save  the  children  of  the  middle  classes  and  of  the  higher  middle  classes, 
we  make  a  huge  mistake  with  regard  to  this  country.  What  we  need 
to-day  is  to  see  to  it  that  the  children  of  the  congregations  have 
more  distinct,  systematic,  and  dogmatic  teaching.  Everybody  does 
not  believe  that.     But  we  are  now  in  front  of  a  great  campaign. 

In  the  next  five-and-twenty  years  we  shall  have  battles  in  England, 
probably  in  America,  too ;  and  very  keen  will  those  contests  be.  We 
have  two  great  classes  to  face  at  the  present  moment.  There  are  men 
who  deny  aU  that  is  miraculous  in  Scripture  fact,  and  all  that  is 
spiritual  in  Christian  experience.  Another  set,  if  they  do  not  deny, 
reject ;  and  they  are  no  better  than  the  fu-st ;  for,  while  it  is  bad  to 
deny,  it  is  not  better  to  reject.  Our  sons  and  daughters  are  going  to 
meet  these  two  classes  of  people  in  society  and  in  places  of  business, 
and  they  will  be  exposed,  for  the  next  many  years,  to  the  rattling  fire 
of  opposition.  If  we  do  not  teach  our  young  people  distinct,  dog- 
matic truth  before  they  enter  that  arena  of  warfare,  how  will  they  be 
able  to  resist  attacks,  and  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  once  delivered 
to  the  saints  ?  "  Oh,  but  you  are  not  to  prejudice  in  favour  of  a  set 
of  opinions,  or  in  favoiu'  of  this  church,  that  chm'ch,  and  the  other 
church."  It  is  all  nonsense.  If  we  do  not  look  after  the  children  the 
devil  will,  and  we  must  see  that  they  do  not  go  into  the  forefront  of 
the  battle  without  weapons  and  ammunition,  withoiit  knowing  what  to 
say  and  what  to  do.  "  We  do  not  want  to  make  our  children  contro- 
versialists, we  do  not  want  critics  in  pinafores."  Yery  well,  but  you 
cannot  help  them  going  into  controversy. 

Some  years  ago,  in  the  neighbom-ing  county  to  this,  there  was  a 
great  dinner  given ;  usual  toasts  were  proposed,  and  the  usual  foohsh 
speeches  were  made  before  and  after.  "The  Army,  and  Navy,  and 
Volunteers,"  was  one  of  the  toasts.  It  was  in  the  early  days  of  the 
volunteer  movement.  A  gallant  officer  responded,  and  said,  amongst 
other  thmgs,  that  "  he  was  quite  sure  that  the  volunteers  of  England 
would  do  theu"  duty  manfully."  Let  us  hope  they  wQl ;  they  have  to 
do  that  every  day  in  one  way  or  another.     But  he  went  on  to  say: 


The  Means  to  he  Adopted.  317 

"they  might  bo  ciiiito  sure  the  volunteers,  in  the  clay  of  battle,  would 
not  be  found  hiding  behind  sticks  and  stones,  bricks  and  Avails,  but 
would  come  out  to  the  front  and  fight."  People  saw  that  speech 
reported  in  the  papers,  and  a  few  days  later  there  appeared  in  the 
Times,  from  General  Sir  Charles  Napier,  a  letter  in  which  he  said, 
"  Don't  talk  nonsense!  It  is  not  the  duty  of  a  soldier  to  be  shot,  bub 
his  duty  is  to  shoot  other  people.  One  secret  of  the  art  of  war  is  to 
know  how  to  hide,  and  therefore  to  go  behind  sticks  and  stones,  bricks 
and  walls,  whenever  they  may  have  the  chance."  Admirable !  The 
letter  proceeded :  "  We  had  a  battle  in  which  two  of  our  regiments 
were  engaged,  but  the  one  was  relieved  by  the  other.  On  the  day  after 
the  battle,  the  men  of  the  second  regiment  went  roaming  about  the 
field,  and  the  colonel  came  into  a  gap  in  the  bastion  and  saw  a  man 
lying  stiff  and  dead.  One  of  the  sergeants  said,  '  That  was  a  brave 
man,  colonel.'  ' I  should  think  he  was  too  brave.'  'Too  brave?  But 
why  ?  '  '  Well,  you  see,  he  came  into  the  gap  and  got  shot.  Instead 
of  standing  behind  the  bastion  to  shoot  other  people,  other  people  shot 
liim.'  "  And  so,  in  order  to  make  oiu-  childi-en  good  soldiers  of  Christ, 
we  should  show  them  whei-e  the  bastions  are  in  controversy,  behind 
which  they  can  hide  in  the  midst  of  the  contest.  We  must  put  into 
their  hands  well-tried  weapons  and  the  right  kind  of  ammimition.  We 
cannot  do  that  unless  we  teach  distinctly  Bible  truths — the  great 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion. 

Therefore,  while  we  have  the  childi-en  in  a  plastic  state,  let  us  teach 
them  something  definite,  and  instruct  them  in  the  means  of  imparting 
knowledge,  which,  does  not  mean  simply  sitting  on  the  teacher's  box 
and  looking  wise.  Let  ns,  whQe  we  have  the  opportunity,  cultivate 
this  part  of  the  work,  for  the  sake  of  their  souls,  for  the  sake  of  the 
purity  of  then-  faith,  and  for  the  strengthening  of  the  Christian  rehgioa 
in  this  land. 

Another  interesting  branch  of  the  Sunday  school  work  mentioned 
was  that  we  have  to  deal  with,  not  only  the  chilcben  of  the  Christian 
people,  but  a  large  number  of  the  children  of  ii-rehgious  persons.  This 
is  a  very  interesting  fact  in  the  life  of  the  chm-ch  in  this  counti-y  to- 
day. There  ai-e  hundreds  and  thousands  of  people  who  never  go  into 
Grod's  house,  though  they  regularly  send  their  children  to  our  schools. 
Wliat  a  great  home  missionary  fact !  Had  these  people  been  sent  to 
the  Sunday  school  thu-ty,  forty,  or  fifty  years  ago,  as  they  now  send 
their  own  children,  they  might  have  been  brought  as  lambs  into  the 
fold,  instead  of  wandering,  as  they  are  to-day,  on  the  mountains  of  sin. 
Let  us,  however,  secure  the  conversion  of  theii-  chUdi-en,  and  use  these 
little  home  missionaries  to  bring  their  pai'ents  to  the  Saviour.  In 
England,  whatever  there  may  be  in  America,  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
house-to-house  visitation,  when  the  dooi-s  are  not  bolted  in  the  face 
of  the  visitors.  But  they  soon  woidd  be,  if  many  peojile  did  not 
know  how  to  reach  the  masses  by  knife  and  fork,  by  blanket  or  by 
eoup. 


318  Reasons  fm-  Extension. 

There  are  numbers  of  persons  who  did  not  -want  to  be  visited  either 
by  clergy  or  by  Christian  workers.  How  were  we  to  reach  such  people  ? 
They  will  not  hear  sermons,  they  A\'ill  not  come  to  our  chm-ches  or 
c4uipels;  but  they  send  then-  children  by  myriads  into  the  schools. 
Having  the  children,  w^e  may  teach  them  the  one  Gospel,  and  then 
send  them  with  the  same  message  to  their  houies,  for  the  best  homo 
missionary  in  a  poor  man's  house  is  that  poor  man's  children. 

Another  thbig  we  have  to  remember  in  regard  to  the  use  of  the  be^-t 
means  of  extending  Sunday  school  work  is  the  point  touched  on  by 
Mr.  Woodruff.  Not  only  have  we  to  deal  with  the  work  and  use  the 
means  for  extending  aaid  improvmg  it,  but  there  is  a  work  far  beyond 
wliich  requii-es  attention.  I  had  iatended  to  say  very  much  what 
Mr.  Woodruff  has  said  at  the  close  of  his  address.  I  agree  that  pres- 
sure should  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  great  missionary  societies  of 
to-day  to  take  up  this  matter  more  systematically.  We  have  need  of 
more  Sunday  school  work  in  the  hands  of  the  missionaries.  The  time 
has  surely  come  when  it  might  be  pointed  out  to  those  societies  that 
great  aid  might  be  given  to  this  department  of  work,  especially  from 
England  and  America.  Such  assistance  would  have  a  wonderfid  effect 
iipou  the  success  of  the  foreign  missionary  work  generally.  If  you 
could  deal  with  the  children  in  foreign  lands,  the  same  result  woidd 
accrue  there  that  we  find  here  at  home.  You  may  deal  with  the 
chtldreu,  we  hope.  Wlien  you  deal  with  older  people,  you  can  have  no 
hope  of  changing  them  morally. 

There  are  thousands  and  thousands  of  people  in  Enghsh  cities 
to-day  about  whom  it  is  said — and  it  is  sad  to  say  it — that,  so  far  as 
regards  then*  unprovement  m  morals  and  theu*  salvation,  they  are 
Gospel-hardened  and  conscience- seared,  they  will  not  receive  the  ti-uth ; 
they  reject  everybody  that  comes  to  try  and  benefit  them  ;  and,  so 
far  as  many  of  these  are  concerned,  we  have  little  hope.  But,  in 
regard  to  the  criminal  and  vicious  classes,  we  have  great  hope  of  tliis 
coimti-y's  future,  because  we  can  deal  with  the  childi-en.  The  preva- 
lence of  vice  and  crhne  in  this  country  is  one  great  reason  why  we 
should  try  to  extend  om'  work  among  the  children.  Crime !  "  Wliy," 
it  may  be  said,  "the  hand  of  the  law  touches  it.  Yice  ;  the  hand  of 
the  law  may  touch  that  also  ;  but  very  often  it  does  not."  The 
Christian  chiu-ch  has  to  deal  with  both.  Visiting  a  reformatory,  with 
wliich  I  have  to  do,  I  said  to  one  of  the  boys,  "  What  are  you  here  for, 
my  boy?  "  "  Steahng."  "  That  is  very  sad  for  a  boy  of  your  years. 
What  did  you  steal ?  "  "I  stole  some  bread  and  dripping."  "  Were 
you  very  hungry?"  "Very  hungry."  "How  long  had  you  been 
without  food  ?  "     He  said  :  "  Two  days  and  so  many  hours." 

Think  of  it,  a  boy  of  thirteen,  two  days  and  some  hom-s ;  and,  the 
himger  grippmg  at  him,  he  saw  some  dripping  and  bread.  I  do  not 
think  that  "theft"  is  written  in  the  black-book  of  eternity  against 
Mm.  Eut  there  is  a  pohceman,  who  puts  his  hand  upon  that  boy's 
collar  J  he  is  taken  before  the  magistrates,  and  he  is  sent  for  so  many 


The  Means  to  he  Athqitid.  :]]9 

days  to  prison,  and  for  tlirco  and  a  half  years  to  a  reformatory.  Very 
likely  it  will  bo  a  great  benefit  to  him  ;  I  do  not  say  it  won't.  That 
is  crime,  and  erimc  of  tiic  simplest  sort. 

'J'hrce  weeks  ago  I  visited  a  eonvict  prison,  and  there  saw  some 
most  vieious  men  undergoing  life  sentences — murderers.  That  is 
crime  at  the  end  of  the  catalogue.  And  so,  between  tlio  murderer 
uiul  this  hungry  lad  who  took  the  bread  and  dripping,  you  have 
eriminals  of  all  sorts.  But  I  can  walk  out  of  the  reformatory,  ami 
out  of  the  convict  prison,  and  I  can  lind,  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  in 
some  of  the  chief  promenades  of  London,  men  dressed  in  broadcloth 
and  adorned  with  jowellcry,  which  is  not  sham — and  that  is  saying 
something — who  are  doing  things  day  and  night  that  would  make 
devils  bUish  if  devils  could  blush  ;  and  the  law  cannot  touch  them. 
No  poheeman  can  put  his  hand  upon  their  collar  for  that.  How  arc 
we  to  stop  this  crime  and  vice  in  our  land  ?  Acts  of  Parliament  will 
never  do  it ;  human  laws  will  never  do  it ;  punishment  will  never  do 
it.  The  only  way  to  do  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God,  the  power  of  the 
Christian  religion. 

However,  so  far  as  the  men  and  women  of  tliese  classes  are  con- 
cerned, I  say  we  have  little  ground  for  hope  respecting  many  of  them  ; 
but,  for  the  boys  and  girls  of  to-day,  the  millions  of  children  that  are 
in  our  schools  now,  who  are  either  to  be  good  citizens  or  a  disgrace  to 
the  nation  in  ten,  twenty,  or  tliii'ty  years  hence,  we  have  ground  to 
hope,  and,  if  M-e  bring  to  bear  upon  them  the  blessed  influences  of 
our  schools,  we  have  the  largest  field  to  work  on,  and  the  largest 
means  to  work  with.  We  have  the  teaching  of  the  Word  of  God,  we 
have  the  power  of  prayer,  we  have  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
which  is  promised  to  us  and  to  them.  If  we  use  these  means,  we 
shall  surely  amend  society ;  we  shall  bless  the  nations  ;  we  shall  save 
the  children.  We  sliall  not  only  have  the  field  extended,  but  the 
means  we  use  shall  be  owned  of  God  for  good,  in  the  strengthemng  of 
the  churches ;  and  wo  ourselves,  when  we  stand  befoi-e  Him,  as  we 
rihall  soon,  even  at  the  longest  hence,  in  the  great  day  we  shall  hear 
Him  say  :  "  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithfid  servant,  inasmuch  a^  yc 
liiwe  done  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  Me." 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  {Chicago). 

I  wish  to  bow  this  morning  to  the  beloved  fellow-workers  through- 
out the  United  Kingdom,  and  to  those  distinguished  and  well-known 
brethren  who  have  addressed  us  this  mornmg,  and  say  that  we  Ameri- 
cans are  not  luimindful  of  the  high  place  and  the  great  excellence  of 
the  Simday  schools  of  the  United  Kingdom.  We  are  not  immindful  of 
the  pecidiar  blessings  and  privileges  that  you  enjoy,  nor  of  tlie  sanctity 
of  the  Sabbath,  as  it  is  observed  in  Old  Scotland.  As  an  American,  I 
would  to  God  that  we  had  all  the  gi-eat  things  you  have.  But  I  will 
say  only  this.     I  do  not  think  it  is  specially  needfiU  this  nioi'uing  that 


320  Beasons  fur  Extension. 

v,e  shall  stop  to  consider  the  condition  of  the  schools  either  in  the 
United  Kingdom  or  in  the  United  States. 

Let  us  pass  on,  and,  while  we  do  so,  let  ns  remember  that  ■\ve  have 
not  yet  attained,  neither  are  we  already  perfect.  It  is  one  of  the  great 
advantages  we  have  in  Conventions  like  the  i)resent  one,  that  we  are 
permitted,  through  some  word  that  is  spoken,  or  by  some  illustration 
that  is  used,  to  see  where  the  mistakes  of  the  past  may  be  corrected. 
Ho  is  not  altogether  a  wise  man  who  never  makes  a  mistake,  but  he 
must  be  well-nigh  a  fool  who  is  unwilling  to  correct  it  when  he  knows 
it  is  a  mistake. 

Remember  we  have  gone  over  a  good  many  places  that  we  do  not 
care  to  visit  agam.  We  ought,  therefore,  carefully  looking  at  the  things 
we  have,  to  try  and  pi-ovide  for  their  improvement.  Now,  Americans 
are  sometimes  brusque  in  theu*  manners,  and  I  wish  to  say  to  the  be- 
loved brethren  on  the  iloor,  and  on  the  Committee,  that,  with  a  great 
rush  of  desire  and  thought  on  this  subject,  we  may  occasionally  speak 
too  rapidly  and  say  things  that  are  not  wise  things  to  say.  But  you 
will  hiive  patience  with  us.  You  know  you  have  been  doing  tliat  for  a 
long  time,  and  your  patience  has  not  clean  gone.  I  am  sure  you  have  a 
little  left,  and  you  will  bear  with  us  a  little  longer. 

Sometimes,  in  our  prayer-meetings  and  covenant  meetings,  we  have 
men  who  will  get  up  and  say  :  "  Well,  I  don't  know  that  I  haA-e  any 
new  experience  to  relate  diu'ing  the  past  month."  "  You  don't?  Do 
you  mean  that  God's  mercies  are  clean  gone,  that  there  is  not  another 
cup  of  blessing  in  heaven  that  He  is  ready  to  pour  out  upon  you,  that 
you  have  no  fresh  blessing,  no  fi'esh  mercy  ?  "  Let  vis  be  persuaded  too 
that,  beyond  the  farthest  reach  of  any  human  thought,  concerning  the 
Simday  school  work  of  to-day,  the  plan  of  G-od  extends.  It  is  like 
going  beyond  the  stars,  and  the  best  thing  that  we  can  do  sometimes  is 
to  try  to  discover  that  wliich  is  ah-eady  in  the  plan  of  God. 

A  niunber  of  years  ago,  asti-onomers  throughout  the  world  were  very 
sui-e  there  must  be  a  companion  star  to  Sirius.  But  the  telescopes 
then  in  use  wei'e  not  svifficient  to  disclose  the  truth,  if  indeed  it  were  a 
truth  ;  and  it  was  a  truth.  At  length  some  one  constructed  a  large 
glass  for  a  telescope,  encasing  it  in  a  rough  board,  slung  it  up  with  rude 
tackle,  and  kneehng  reverently  took  a  look,  and  pointing  towards  the 
big  star  he  had  been  in  search  of,  exclaimed,  "  Thank  God,  I  have  seen 
it."  That  was  a  discovery,  hut  it  was  not  a  (creation.  That  star  had 
beoi  shining  for  centuries  before  the  glass  was  turned  towards  it,  be- 
cause it  was  in  the  plan  and  purpose  of  God.  I  humbly  and  firmly 
behove  He  has  a  place  for  the  Sunday  school  that  has  not  yet  entered 
into  the  mind  of  man  to  conceive,  and  that  He  has  other  things  in  store 
for  those  who  are  to  follow  us,  and  which  I  hope  will  be  disclosed  by 
Him  to  our  childi-en. 

We  have  great  advantages,  and  I  fully  endorse  everything  that  has 
been  said  about  a  training  school.  In  our  country  we  are  trying  to  build 
up  religious  training  schools  for  Christian  workers.      We  have  one 


The   ]\[<((iis  til  be  A<h>2>ic(l  321 

opcninp;  at  Cliu'aij;o  for  liomo  niissioiis.  It  is  dcliglilfiil  tu  lliiiik  of 
the  origin  of  the  scliools  for  laily  wofkcrs.  In  oui'  school  at  Chicanro, 
a  plain-lookinj;  -vvonian,  tlic  (oaciu'r  of  a  small  class,  and  who  was 
going  I'onntl  the  neighboin-huod,  visiting  jialiently  ovorv  day,  and 
doing  her  best  to  obtain  help  to  complete  the  schools,  said  to  nie,  "I 
am  going  to  leave  yon."  "  Where  arc  you  going,  Miss  Moore?  "  "  I 
am  going  north  to  Yicksburg  to  see  what  I  can  do  for  the  coloured 
people."  "Who  sent  you?"  She  smiled,  and  said,  "The  Lord 
Jesus."  I  said,  "  01>,  you  are!  "  Then  I  added,  "I  am  siu-e  you  will 
be  thoroughly  equipped."  I  asked  her  how  much  money  she  had  got. 
"  Not  much ;  I  don't  need  a  great  deal.  He  has  told  me  to  cast  all 
luy  care  on  Him,  and  that  whatever  I  ask  He  will  provide ;  and  I 
believe  in  Him,  and  I  am  going.  Good-bye !  "  She  went  to  Yicksburg, 
then  on  to  New  Orleans.  Her  letters  came  back  to  om*  Christian 
■women  in  America.  When  I  visited  New  Orleans  I  found  that  the 
same  young  woman  was  superintendent  of  thirty-four  Smiday  schools 
there.  Out  of  that  history  has  begun  the  Baptist  Training  School  that 
is  in  our  city,  which  our  Methodist  brethren  have  coiiied. 

A  young  Methodist  lady,  a  professor  of  mathematics  in  one  of  our 
colleges,  left  the  professional  chair  to  take  charge  of  a  training  school 
estabhshed  for  young  missionaries.  From  tliese  two  training  schools 
Lad  gone  out  more  than  150  women  to  do  Sunday  school  luissionary 
work.  God  is  willing  to  do  yet  more  abundantly  than  we  can  ask  or 
think.  But,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  absolutely  mdispensable  to  send  our 
bretlu-eu  across  the  sea,  and  to  look  at  the  whole  world.  We  are  apt  to 
circumscribe  the  great  commission.  Whether  we  do  so  or  not,  we 
generally  seem  to  act  as  if  the  commission  said  :  "  Go  ye  into  the  whole 
world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  all  nations,  except  these  Jews,  Catholics, 
Anarchists,"  and  so  on.  That  is  ]n'actically  what  we  say.  We  practi- 
cally say  we  cannot  do  that.  Can't  you  do  the  work  ?  You  cannot  find 
such  a  word  in  the  Bible  ?  If  the  "  bnts,"  "  ifs,"  "  perhapses,"  "  perad- 
rentm-es,"  and  "  maybes  "  were  struck  out  of  the  Christian  dictionary, 
the  chm-ch  of  Clu-ist  woidd  go  forward  and  do  a  thousand  times  more 
than  it  does  now.  If  men  expect  to  do  much  of  themselves,  then  there 
is  very  little  to  be  done  ;  but,  if  we  arc  simply  links  in  the  Almighty 
chain,  if  the  power  of  the  living  God  is  to  take  hold  of  us,  and  we  are 
used  for  Him,  there  is  notliing  on  earth  or  in  heaven  that  can  hinder 
His  work.     Let  us  be  thoroirghly  persuaded  of  that. 

I  will  illustrate  the  point  with  a  pictiu-e  that  gi\es  as  clear  a  cut  as  the 
little  fellow  made  across  his  spelling-book  with  a  jack-knife.  I  want 
to  give  a  clear  cut  with  reference  to  difficidties  and  possibilities.  There 
was  in  our  city  a  yovmg  married  man,  a  mechanic,  who  was  a  Swede, 
and  knew  something  dso  of  Finland.  He  was  an  infidel,  and  he  never 
crossed  the  tlu-eshold  of  a  place  of  worship  for  years.  The  power  of 
God  took  hold  of  liim,  and  he  was  converted.  He  lodged  m  the  second 
story  of  a  little  building,  aud  below  there  lived  a  Swedish  physician. 
A  strange  idea  possessed  liiiu.     It  was  that,  when  a  man  was  converted, 

■V 


322  Mcasons  for  Exlcualun. 

ho  ought  to  do  aonictliuig  for  Christ.  Did  yoiL  ever  hear  anything  like 
it  ?  Ho  h;id  another  strange  idea,  that  the  best  thing  he  coidd  do  was 
to  study  the  Bible.  Singular,  -was  it  not  ?  I  Avoidd  to  God  it  were 
plural.  '  He  had  still  another  idea,  A'iz.,  that  if  you  cannot  have  a  con- 
gregation anywhere  else,  you  had  better  jn-euch  at  home.  That  was 
singular  also.  Tliis  man  got  liis  neighbours  and  friends,  and  those  wlio 
worked  with  him  at  the  shop,  to  come  to  the  second  stoi'y  at  night ; 
there  he  began  to  read  the  Bible,  and  some  of  them  were  converted. 
The  infidel  physician  objected,  and  did  everything  he  could  to  provoke 
tlie  man,  but  the  man  bore  it  all  patiently. 

At  length,  the  doctor  said :  "  I  would  like  to  see  what  you  have  got 
upstairs."  "  I  shall  be  glad,  doctor,"  said  the  man ;  and  he  led  the 
infidel  physician  to  the  Saviour.  That  doctor,  his  wife  and  chUdi'en,  are 
members  of  the  church  to  which  I  belong.  That  man  had  n  fixirly 
jjrofitable  business  as  a  mechanic,  and  he  cast  his  eye  on  Finland  ;  for  I 
do  not  know  that  there  was  a  thoroughly  Evangelical  jjastor  in  Finland, 
thinking  of  the  country,  under  the  iron  heel  of  Eussia,  for  every  man 
was  made  to  join  the  E.ussian  army  or  navy  for  seven  years.  He  started 
for  Finland.  He  came  to  bid  me  good-bye.  He  said,  "  I  am  gomg  to 
Finland."  "  How  are  you  going  ?  "  "  How  ?  I  am  going  to  sell  what 
I  have  got  to  start  with."  "Who  is  going  with  you?"  "  The  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  "  But  you  are  only  a  mechanic,  you  have  no  education  : 
what  are  you  going  to  do?"  "What  I  can.  You  remember  what 
Jesus  Christ  said  of  the  woman,  '  She  hath  done  what  she  could.'  " 

He  went  to  Finland.  While  there  he  invited  people  to  come  and 
take  a  cup  of  tea  with  him.  He  said :  "  In  Amei'ica,  when  we  have 
little  gatherings  of  this  kind,  we  all  read  the  Bible  and  pray."  At  their 
request,  he  had  another  meeting  of  the  same  sort,  and  after  a  time  a 
number  was  converted.  Then  they  said,  "  We  ought  to  have  a  church." 
He  started  ofi"  to  Sweden  for  a  mmister.  There  they  said,  "  We  have 
none  to  send,  but  we  send  you."  And  that  man  is  now  bishop  of  nine- 
teen churches,  superintendent  of  twenty-four  Sunday  schools,  with  100 
teachers  and  nearly  3000  scholars. 

These  difficulties  disappear  like  darkness  before  the  light.  There  are 
no  difficulties  with  God,  whose  plans  reach  far  beyond  our  knowledge, 
and  who  understands  everything.  The  Bible  on  earth  is  to  be  rendered 
into  one  tongue  by-and-by,  and  we  shall  be  helped  to  speak.  We 
need  some  plain,  clear-cut,  definite  plan.  I  do  not  ask  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  society.  I  do  not  seek  to  build  up  anything  against  denomi- 
national efl'ort.  I  am  a  dencminationalist  myself.  I  do  not  believe 
that  a  man  who  is  not  a  denomuiationalist  is  worth  a  row  of  tacks  any- 
where. 

I  once  heard  Dr.  John  Hall  deli\cr  a  sermon,  which  I  shall  never 
forget.  It  consisted  of  three  words.  "  The  first,"  he  said,  "  is  '  creed 
— somethijig  believed.  The  second  is  '  conscience ' — something  that 
dominates  and  controls  the  Hfe.  The  result  of  these  two  things  is 
'  character  '  ;  and  tliat  is  what  God  is  after."     Ah;  friends,  I  think  we 


77/<'  Dr<«tiis  In  be  Adoidal.  323 

want  to  be  more  careful  in  oui"  statcnienls.  I  believe  in  Uie  whole 
church — the  church  universal.  I  believe  in  the  luiion  of  saints  on  tho 
earth,  in  the  forgi\enoss  of  sins,  in  the  precious  blood  of  Christ ;  and  I 
hope  that  no  Siniday  school  delegate  to  this  Convention  will  lot  fall  a 
remark,  or  that  anything  may  creep  into  our  reports  or  papers  contain- 
ing our  proceedings,  to  lead  any  friend  or  foe  to  suppose  tliat  we  arc 
weak  on  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Atonement  and  Regeneration. 

Let  every  one  of  our  Sunday  school  pubhshers,  editors,  and  lesson- 
note  writers  have  the  Bible  microscope  attached  to  his  eye,  so  that  he  may 
see  clearly  what  the  words  mean  that  he  puts  down.  Being  of  that  mind 
we  can  all  unite.  That  is  the  plan  that  is  proposed.  I  say  that  we  arc 
not  asking  for  the  organization  of  a  society.  We  are  not  putting  a 
single  straw  in  the  way  of  the  grand  old  Church  of  England,  nor  of  the 
grand  old  Methodist  Church,  nor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  nor  of 
any  body  of  Dissenting  believers.  What  we  are  seeking  to  do  is  to 
unite  these  Christians  in  some  plan  for  doing  work.  We  know  that  the 
second  best  plan  on  which  all  are  agreed  is  for  better  than  the  first  best 
on  which  we  do  not  agree.  It  is  not  a  question  whether  we  have  got 
the  best.  No  one  says  we  have  got  the  best.  The  great  thing  is  to  aim 
at  something  definite  and  clear.  We  want  to  have  some  purpose  that 
is  plain  to  the  eyesight,  so  that  it  may  be  accomplished  in  some  way. 
We  are  at  the  beginning  of  things  in  this  World's  Convention.  Those 
who  come  after  us  will,  it  is  hoped,  impro\e upon  om- efforts  ;  but,  when 
we  have  made  the  start,  they  will  develop  the  work  we  have  begun. 
Therefore,  I  submit  the  following  resolution  : — 

JZcffoZt'ctJ— That  a  second  Inteniational  Convention  for  Sunday  school 
Workers  in  all  lauds  be  held.  The  particidar  time  and  place  to  be 
left  to  the  General  Committee  appouited  by  tliis  Convention. 

With  regard  to  the  committee  to  be  appointed,  I  am  not  anxious 
about  the  name  to  be  given  to  the  committee.  We  should  call  sucli  a 
body  in  America  an  executive  committee.  Some  brethren  suggest  that 
it  shoiJd  be  a  committee  of  progress,  but  any  word  will  do  that  covers 
both  pi'ogreas  and  development.  What  we  propose  in  this  resolution 
will,  we  know,  put  into  the  hands  of  the  committee  as  much  needed 
authority  as  ^\■ill  enable  them  to  do  the  work  we  may  assign  to  them 
from  time  to  time.  AV'e  do  not  delegate  anythmg  that  we  wish  to 
retain  for  ourselves,  but  simply  give  them  authority,  in  ovir  name,  to 
imdertake  the  work.  In  proposing  that  the  committee  include  five 
from  the  United  Kingdom,  we  recognise  the  work  which  is  done  on 
this  side  of  the  water  through  the  London  committee,  which  is 
imdoubtedly  the  practical  central  authority  in  these  matters.  It  was 
once  said  by  a  lad  who  was  going  to  war  that  his  sword  was  too  short 
for  him.  His  parent  said,  "  You  can  add  a  step  to  it,  my  son."  That 
is  the  way  to  reach  the  masses ;  let  us  add  a  step,  to  get  nearer  to 
them.  But,  at  this  hour,  England,  the  United  States,  and  the  London 
committee  are  the  nearest  to  them ;  and  we  arc  glad  to  fall  into  the 

V  2 


324  I\casoiis  for  Exlcnslon, 

line  behind.  Here  is  the  place  for  personal  sacrifice — "  one  from 
Canada,"  and  not  more  than  one  unless  absolutelj  necessary.  If  we 
cannot  ao-ree  on  one  representative,  how  can  we  hope  to  agree  on  any- 
thing else  ?  If  Grod  will  pick  out  the  man,  we  ouglit  to  let  personal 
preferences  go,  and  be  profoundly  grateful,  bowing  down  at  their  feet, 
and  ready  even  to  blacken  theu*  shoes,  if  necessary. 

I  pity  the  man  who  has  got  a  personal  ambition  or  personal  pride  in 
this  matter.  If  we  are  to  be  honouj'ed  of  God  at  all,  we  must  be  emjjtied 
m  order  that  we  may  be  filled,  to  be  fiUed  in  order  that  we  may  be  used, 
and  to  be  used  in  order  that  we  may  glorify  Him,  and  not  get  honour 
to  ourselves.  The  committee  are  to  appoint  experienced  workers  and  to 
pay  them  for  their  services.  Tbere  is  to  be  some  plan  of  voluntary 
contribution.  Let  there  be  no  assessments  on  the  Sunday  schools  or  the 
churches,  or  anybody  else,  except  those  who  are  willing  to  give.  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  International  Association,  representhig  the 
schools  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  at  this  Convention,  are 
thoroughly  well  able  to  contribute  to  the  work.  Are  \se  not  brethren  ? 
Let  Hie  see  your  hands.  [Many  hands  were  held  up  in  response  to 
the  appeal.]  We  do  not  know  at  this  hour  who  is  just  the  man  to 
represent  Bussia  or  Persia.  But  far  be  it  from  us  to  limit  God,  avIio 
will  assuredly  raise  up  some  one  for  that  country.  I  tell  you,  brethren, 
we  will  have  a  Sunday  school  Convention  in  Afghanistan  yet,  with  the 
walls  down  on  both  sides.  I  am  glad  to  have  this  resolution  to  go  to 
the  committee,  and  into  hands  that  will  properh'  draft  it.  Meanwhile 
I  submit  it  to  the  Convention  in  the  form  in  which  I  have  read  it, 
thanking  you  very  much  for  your  patience  and  kindness. 

The  Peesidekt  :  The  movement  which  the  resolution  proposes  to 
inaugurate  is  one  which,  with  God's  blessing,  may  be  the  greatest  ever 
started  in  connection  Avith  Sunday  schools.  There  are  details  which 
may  want  patient  thought,  but  the  requisite  principles  are  embodied  in 
the  resolution,  and  I  have  to  ask  the  Convention  whether  you  are  pre- 
pared to  affirm  those  principles  by  now  accepting  the  resolution. 

Mr.  H.  T.  Mawson  {Sotithport)  -.  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me  taking 
the  liberty  of  coming  forward  from  the  body  of  the  meeting,  but  I 
have  thought,  during  the  speeches  of  Mr.  Kelly  and  Mr.  Jacobs,  that  it 
is  not  sufficiently  known  and  felt  in  this  great  assembly  that  there  are 
several  other  branches  of  the  Methodist  family  that  most  thoroughly 
sympathise  with  all  that  is  being  done  by  the  Sunday  School  Union  in 
addition  to  the  Wesleyan  body  itself.  I  stand  here  \x\  a  somewhat 
pecuhar  position  in  connection  \ni\\  this  gathering,  as  I  unfortunately, 
or  fortunately,  represent  thi'ee  distmct  organizations.  I  have  been  sent 
here  as  President  of  the  Smiday  School  Union  at  Southport.  That 
Union  embraces  schools  representing  the  Primitive  Methodist  New 
Connexion,  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  a  large  body  of  Congre- 
gationahsts,  and  the  Free  Methodist  Churches.  I  feel  there  is  a 
thorough  imion  among  all  sections,  and  I  would  that  the  Church  of 
England  were  also  ncluded  in  such  a  representation.    I  am  also  sent 


The  Mraun  tn  h-  A,hq,l,-<1.  ^25 

here  by  tlio  Methodist  Free  Cliiircli  iroiiie  and  Foreign  Missiuuai-y 
Committee,  and  tlierc  iiro  tlii-ee  otlier  brethren  liere  wlio  have  been 
asked  to  come  iu;d  represent  our  Home  and  Foreign  Missionarv  Com- 
mittee, beenusc  a  requisition  came  from  the  central  office  in  London 
asking  that  such  an  appointment  might  be  made.  I  wouUl  not  have 
hked  this  meeting  to  close  witliout  tlie  Free  Melliodist  Ciiureh  being 
represented,  because  we  have  in  Eastern  and  Western  Africa,  in  China, 
Jamaica,  and  otlier  parts  of  the  lieathen  world,  missionaries  wlio  have 
several  Sunday  schools  whicli  are  conducted  on  the  same,  or  similar, 
principles  as  those  which  govern  the  schools  in  this  country.  I  am 
sure  there  is  a  thorough  union  of  feeling  amongst  the  Christian 
denominations  upon  this  great  work.  Therefore,  I  wish  to  say  tliat 
there  is  nothing,  in  my  opinion,  more  calculated  to  promote  union 
througliout  the  whole  of  Christendom  so  much  as  the  sort  of  union 
to  which  Mr.  Jacobs  alluded  in  his  speech. 

The  President  :  We  have  invited  delegates  from  our  missionary 
societies  to  this  Convention,  because  we  feel  that  the  very  first  stej) 
will  be  to  join  our  missionary  societies  in  carrying  out  the  princi[)les  of 
the  resolution  in  a  loyal,  hearty,  and  brotherly  spirit. 

The  resolution  was  then  put  and  agreed  to  nem.  con* 


Eey.  E.  Clarke  {Spezzia,  Ilalij). 

We  have  to  speak  of  nations,  not  cities.  It  is  my  privilege  to  come 
to  you  from  the  land  of  the  Cocsars,  the  land  of  Garibaldi,  of  Victor 
Emanuel,  and  the  Pope.  I  am  hajipy  to  tell  you  that  the  land  of  Italy 
is  opening  up  to  tlie  glorious  everlasting  Gospel  of  Jesus  Clu-ist.  I 
have  been  consulting  a  return  of  the  number  of  Sabbath  scholars  in 
Italy,  and  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that  we  have  about  9000  dear  cliildrcn 
under  Bible  instruction  in  Sabbath  schools.  In  the  year  1862,  I 
received  an  invitation  from  Dr.  Burn,  of  Baltimore,  to  think  about 
Italy.  At  that  time  there  was  scarcely  any  one  in  England  that  would 
tiu"n  attention  to  that  land ;  and  I  had  to  do,  as  our  Swedish  friend, 
Mr.  Jacobs,  has  told  us  about  did,  viz.,  to  sell  my  books  and  goods,  to 
earn  my  own  livelihood  in  the  country,  and  to  go  to  Italy.  But  I  may 
tell  you  that  the  work  of  evangehzation  connected  with  the  Sunday 
schools  in  Italy  is  just  opening  up,  as  a  wedge,  that  land,  in  order  that 
Italy  may  come  again  to  the  fi'ont.  Italy  lias  twice  lived,  and  she  has 
yet  to  hve  again.  It  is  very  remarkable  that  the  Pope  says  that  the 
Bible  schools  are  giving  him  more  trouble  than  all  the  other  Scriptural 
work  done  in  Italy.  Tiierefore,  we  are  encouraged  to  go  in  and  take 
possession  of  the  land.  We  know  that  Garibaldi  cleared  the  road, 
Victor  Emanuel  seconded  liim,  and  the  great  and  glorious  conviction 
came  upon  the  country  that  tliei'e  must  be  liberty  of  thought  and  action. 

*  Sec  Appendi.t. 


326  Beasons  for  Extension. 

I  am  happy  to  say  that,  when  young  Yictoi"  Emanuel  fought  vith  his 
father  against  the  Austrians  and  was  totally  defeated,  he  looked  around 
upon  the  slain  and  the  dying,  lifted  up  his  swoi-d,  and,  pouiting  to  the 
Austrian  camp,  said,  "  Per  Dio  L' Italia  sera  "  (By  God,  Italy  shall  be). 
And  so,  in  relation  to  Sunday  school  work  in  Italy,  we  say,  "  By  the 
help  of  God,  Italy  shall  be,  and  Sunday  schools  shall  be."  With  this 
small  number  of  9000  dear  children  under  Bible  instruction,  we  liope  to 
go  in  and  take  possession.  Just  as  a  well-known  Englishman,  after 
twenty  years'  labour  and  study,  fomid  a  way  into  the  Tery  interior  of 
Siberia,  so  we  have  now  found  a  way  into  the  homes  of  the  dear 
children  of  Italy,  and  the  families  of  Italy,  by  means  of  the  Sunday 
school.  We  intend  to  go  forward  until  that  glorious  time  arrives  when 
Christ,  in  Italy,  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  His  soid,  and  shall  be  satis- 
fied. Per  Dlo,  we  may  say,  the  Sunday  school  work  shall  be  in  Italy 
as  in  other  lands. 


Eev.  John  McNeill  {London). 

I  really  had  no  intention  of  being  called  upon  here.  I  came  in  and 
sat  as  far  back  as  I  could  get,  if  I  were  to  be  inside  at  all ;  but  one  of 
yourselves  laid  hold  of  me,  and,  being  a  weak,  facile  kind  of  soiil,  I  was 
bundled  up  to  the  platform.  I  am  very  glad  to  have  been  able  to 
attend  one  or  two  of  your  gatherings.  I  could  not  come  to  more  of 
them.  What  I  heard  was  really  helpful.  I  hope  that,  more  and  more, 
the  ministers  and  the  Sunday  school  teachers  are  beginning  to  fird  that 
we  are,  after  all,  engaged  in  the  same  work,  and  that  we  are  really  one, 
that  our  object  is  one,  our  Gospel  one,  our  hope  one,  and  our  prayer 
one.  There  may  be  a  little  difference  about  ordination  in  the  eye  of 
the  Christian  public  and  of  the  world.  The  one  way  may  be  more  con- 
spicuous than  the  other,  but  Ave  are  trying  more  and  more  to  realize 
that  the  minister  and  the  humblest  Sunday  school  teacher  are  both 
imder  Christ's  direction,  doing  the  one  great  work  of  saving  souls  and 
advancing  those  who  are  saved  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
setting  them  to  work  for  the  salvation  of  others.  I  do  not  think  we 
have  all  realized  that  as  yet,  but  we  are  coming  more  and  more  to  it. 

Another  delusion  is  being  obliterated.  I  do  not  know  how  it  is  with 
those  who  come  from  other  lands,  but  I  do  know  that  in  my  own  land — 
that  is  not  here,  for  I  am  a  stranger  and  sojourner  in  London — in 
Scotland  there  was  in  my  own  day  considerable  division  between  the 
minister  and  the  Sunday  school  teacher,  the  school  minister  being  often 
a  "  stickit"  minister,  as  the  plu-ase  was — a  man  who  had  tried  to  be  a 
minister,  had  failed,  and  had  sunk  down  to  this  lower  level.  He  was  an 
inferior  creature,  and  the  minister  occasionally  came  and  condescended 
to  speak  to  him  and  look  at  his  work.  There  has  been  a  levelling  since 
that  time — a  levelling  down  on  one  side,  and  a  levelUng  up  on  the 
other.  Now  I  trust  the  outcome  will  be  the  more  thorough  equipment 
and  endowment  of  every  man  or  woman,  yomiger  or  older,  richer  or 


The  Mcam  to  he  Adopted.  327 

l")Oorcv,  Tvlio  mny  set  themselves  to  teacli  Christ  in  the  Siuulay  school, 
nnd  to  seek  to  do  in  their  plane  and  splicre  what,  after  all,  a  minister 
should  do  no  less  and  no  more  in  connection  with  those  who  are  further 
advanced  in  years.  There  may  be  differences  among  lis  generally  ;  but 
I  look  to  the  Sunday  school  with  hope,  because  it  is  obliterathig,  as  far 
as  may  bo,  denominational  distinctions.  As  regards  denominations,  of 
course  I  am  a  Presbyterian.     I  may  say  what  the  poets  dou't  say — 

"Oh,  the  unlucky,  complex  works  of  man. 
Heaven's  easy,  artless  Presbyteriau  plan." 

But,  when  we  come  to  Sunday  school  work,  wo  are  all  for  the  plan 
that  will  do  the  work  best ;  and  we  are  going  to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible, 
those  names  by  which  distinctively  any  other  parts  of  Christian  work 
may  be  known.  I  bid  this  Convention  God  speed,  I  cannot  say  in  your 
coming,  because  you  are  very  uear  your  going.  But  what  I  have  heard 
has  quickened  me  as  a  minister.  I  feel  I  must  go  back  to  my  ovni 
Sunday  school  work  with  keener  interest,  and  look  more  closely  into  it 
than  I  have  yet  done.  I  suppose  that  fi'om  this  platfoi-m  speakers 
have  often  referred  to  their  own  experiences  in  Sunday  school  work. 
I  look  back  to  mine.  I  was  brought  up  in  a  Sunday  school,  and  all  I 
will  say  is,  that  Sunday  school  teaching  has  taken  a  long  step  forward 
in  weight,  or,  as  I  shoidd  say  at  home,  "  wecht,"  which  is  a  totally  dif- 
fei'cut  tiling.  There  is  no  English  translation  of  "  wecht,"  when,  for 
instance,  you  speak  of  '•  a  man  of  wecht."  Simday  school  work  is  now 
better  done  than  it  was  formerly.  My  own  Sunday  school  remiuis- 
cences  are  of  a  somewhat  diUI  kind.  I  can  remember  instances  in  my 
day  school  life,  but  I  remember  very  Uttle  of  my  Sunday  school  life. 
The  teachers  were  worthy  men,  no  doubt,  but  I  do  not  think  they  pre- 
pared ;  certainly  I  never  did.  They  did  not  prepare  to  meet  me,  and 
I  did  not  prepare  to  meet  them.  I  suppose  we  have  changed  all  that 
now.  I  remember  the  almost  useless  prize  competition  for  repeating  the 
llOtli  Psalm  on  one  occasion.  I  did  not  get  the  prize,  but  my  sister 
did,  and  that,  I  thought,  was  the  uiikindest  cut  of  all. 

Eev.  W.  Jones  {Newport,  IlonmoitUishire). 

I  believe  one  of  the  great  objects  of  the  "World's  Couventiou  is  that 
workers  in  every  part  of  the  world  may  learn  what  is  best  in  every 
other  part.  It  will,  I  believe,  also  be  agreed  that  a  great  factor  in  this 
Convention  is  the  eagerness  and  enthusiasm  of  the  friends  from  America. 
They  have  taught  a  good  many  lessons  ah'eady,  and  there  is  one  in  par- 
ticular which  I  should  lilce  to  emphasize,  viz.  "  the  whole  chiu-ch  and 
congregation  in  the  Sunday  school;"  i.e.,  the  Sunday  school  to  be  a 
Bible-study  service.  It  has  been  several  times  said  that  the  burning 
question  to-day  is.  How  to  retain  elder  scholars  and  adult  classes.  "Why 
do  elder  scholars  leave  the  Sunday  school  ?  Because  they  feel  them- 
selves to  be  men,  and  the  clnuThcs  keep  the  men  out  of  the  schools 


328  Brasons  for  Exlnision. 

except  tliosc  who  ave  teachers.  I  hope  that  the  Sunday  School  Union 
■will  trv  more  and  more  to  incidcato  tlic  sentiment,  not  the  children 
only,  but  the  whole  church  iu  the  Sunday  scliool. 


Oeoanizing  Seceetaey  por  Sunday  School  Extension. 

A  resolution  on  this  subject  was  submitted  by  the  President  from 
the  executive  committee,  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Convention 
(see  Appendix) . 

Rev.  C.  C.  Scott  {South  Carolina). 

It  was  not  my  intention  to  make  any  remarks  on  this  occasion,  but 
when  I  heard  the  Eev.  C.  H.  Woodruff  allude,  m  his  magnificent 
address,  to  Afi-ica,  and  not  to  the  great  field  wliich  the  Soutliern  States 
of  America  presents  for  the  extension  of  Sunday  school  work,  I  thought 
I  ouo-ht  to  rise  and  say  a  word  in  relation  to  the  existence  and  main- 
tenance of  Sunday  schools  among  the  negroes.  Every  now  and  then 
we  have  springing  up  here  the  Irish  question,  and  we  Americans  think 
that  we  can  decide  the  c(uestion  much  better  than  you  can  on  this  side 
of  the  water.  In  return  for  the  kmduess  we  want  to  show  to  yon  in 
that  respect,  I  tlunk  the  Enghsh  people  must  do  for  tlie  negroes  in  the 
South  what  the  Americans  have  not  yet  fully  done  for  them.  Long 
ago  they  used  to  sing  the  song — 

"  Columbia,  the  gem  of  the  oceau, 
The  land  of  the  bravo  and  the  free." 

But  we  were  compelled  to  say  "  The  land  of  the  slave."  An  agitation 
commenced  in  England  against  the  slave  trade  contmued  like  a  pebble 
dropped  into  the  water,  it  became  widespread,  it  crossed  the  Atlantic, 
stirred  up  sentiment  in  oiu-  behalf,  and  in  due  time  caused  the  great 
siruagle  tliat  brought  freedom  to  4,000,000  slaves.  Now  the  question 
is,  "VVhat  shall  we  do  with  them  ?  Well,  the  South  as  a  community  has 
not  yet  taken  hold  of  the  question.  I  thank  God  that  here  and  there 
men  are  found  in  the  South — tliough  few  they  may  be — who  are 
imited  with  the  North  in  doing  what  they  can  to  enhghten,  educate, 
and  Clu-istianize  the  negroes.  I  wish  to  impress  tliis  thought  upon  the 
Convention  before  it  adjourns.  Having  regard  to  the  fact  that  in  the 
South  there  ai'e  such  differences  of  opinion,  such  a  bar  sinister  placed 
on  the  negro  race  that  they  cannot  work  together,  I  hope  some  provi- 
sion will  be  made  whereby  the  negroes  of  the  South  shall  be  looked 
after  much  better  for  Simday  school  work  than  they  have  been  in  the 
past. 

Me.  Councilloe  Noeton  (Gloticesier). 

1  do  not  hke  to  leave  this  meeting  without  expressmg  how  deeply  I 
feel  the  pleasure  of  attending  the  various  gatherings  held  m  this  and 


The  Mccivs  (o  he  A(h>2>lc(l  329 

other  rooms.  I  say  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  because  I  am  a  dele- 
gate from  a  eity  which,  though  not  a  large  one,  ranks  among  those 
small  plaees  from  whieh  have  spriuig  great  movements.  I  have  yet  to 
learn  that  Mecca,  Nazareth,  and  Ijcthlehem  are  large,  but  they  are 
important  in  the  annals  of  history.  Gloucester  will  ever  be  known 
as  the  city  where  100  jears  ago  tlie  Sunday  school  movement  was 
inaugurated.  We  have  schools  there  which,  thougli  not  so  large  as 
those  yon  may  find  in  tlus  country  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
are  of  a  very  different  character  from  the  building  of  which  pictures 
■were  exhibited  iu  the  International  bazaar  showing  the  first  Sunday 
school  in  the  city  of  Gloucester  100  years  since.  You  may  compare 
the  schooh'oom  of  a  century  ago  with  the  magnificent  buildings  now 
used  iu  this  coimtry  and  iia  America,  and  say  "Look  upon  this  pic- 
ture and  upon  that."  These  are  material  differences,  it  is  true,  but 
no  doubt  there  have  been  improvements  in  a  spu'itual  sense  as  well ; 
for  I  suppose  the  persons  whom  Robert  E.aikes  paid  for  then'  services  in 
the  Sunday  school  a  century  ago  were  neither  very  faithful  nor  very 
energetic.  At  any  rate,  they  were  a  very  different  class  of  individuals 
from  those  who  are  now  engaged  in  teaching  the  young. 

The  Peesident  :  I  am  to  annoiince,  esj^ecially  to  our  American 
fi'iends,  that  they  will  find  on  sale  in  the  International  Bazaar*  copies 
of  tlie  pictiu-e  of  the  vei-y  house  in  Gloucester  to  wliich  Councillor 
Norton  has  just  alluded  :  and  they  may  like  to  carry  home  with  them  so 
interestmg  a  souvenii-  of  Gloucester  and  the  first  Sunday  school  in  this 
country, 

Eev.  Dr.  John  Hall  (Neir  YorJc). 

An  earnest  letter  has  been  put  into  my  hands  at  this  moment,  accom- 
panied with  a  request  that  something  should  be  said  on  the  subject  to 
wliich  the  communication  refers.  The  statement  in  the  letter  is  to  the 
effect  that  there  is  a  number — it  is  tliought  an  increasing  number — of 
Sunday  school  teachers  who  are  quite  in  earnest  in  their  work  and  desire 
to  bring  souls  to  Christ,  but  who  have  strong  objections  to  foi-mulated 
statements  of  doctrine,  and  the  moment  they  encounter  one  of  these 
formulated  statements  denounce  it  as  dogmatic  theology.  The  writer 
suggests  that  something  ought  to  be  said  upon  the  matter  to  correct  a 
tendency  that  is  injm-ious  in  its  influences.  I  shall  only  say  one  word 
as  the  thing  strikes  me  at  the  moment.  The  word  "  dogma  "  was  long 
associated  with  the  utterances  of  the  Yatican,  and  it  natm'aUy  became 
an  impopular  word  in  Protestant  lands. 

But  there  are  words,  just  as  there  are  things,  wliich  we  have  to 
redeem  from  abuses.     The  remedy,  as  it  seems  to  me,  for  tliis  tendency 

*  This  Bazaar  was  held  simultaneously  witli  the  Convention,  in  the 
Central  Hall,  High  Holboru,  and  was  opened  by  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen. 
Its  main  object  being  the  raising  of  funds  for  the  Continental  Sunday 
School  Mission,  the  Country  Homes  for  Scholars,  and  the  Retreat  for 
Female  Sunday  School  Teachers  at  Hastings. 


330  Beasovs  for  Extension. 

will  be  largely  In  tlie  hands  of  ministers.  Let  tliem  explain  to  the 
common  sense  of  the  people  what  we  mean  by  a  formulated  doctrine, 
and  the  common  sense  of  the  people  will  recognise  the  jnstice  and  the 
necessity  for  this  formulating.  When  a  gentlen\an  spells  a  word  WTongly 
in  his  letter  it  is  an  easy  thing  to  say  to  him,  "  "Wliy,  you  are  violatmg 
the  laws  of  orthography."  It  would  be  very  childish  of  hira  to  say, 
"Oh,  that  is  mere  orthography,  I  do  not  care  about  grammar;  that 
is  mere  etymology."  That  may  be  true ;  but  by  imiversal  consent  of 
mankind  grammar,  including  etymology  and  syntax,  has  a  Tcry  impor- 
tant place  in  education.  It  is  for  ministers  who  eiiter  Eible  classes  and 
teachers'  classes,  and  who  in  the  exposition  of  truth  from  the  pulpit 
to  correct  tliis  evil  tendency,  which  is  the  result  of  mistake,  I  presmne, 
and  not  a  defective  or  wrong  motive. 

Before  I  sit  down  I  will  give  an  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  words 
can  be  perverted  or  misunderstood.  It  is  not  my  own,  I  had  it  a  year 
ago  fi'om  the  Eev.  Dr.  Storrs,  a  name  that  is  well  known  to  all  Americans. 
It  is  a  very  dignified  and  important  communication,  because  he  made  it 
in  a  fitting  way  to  our  General  Assembly  in  Philadelphia,  to  which  he 
was  a  delegate.  There  was  a  Mr.  Sidlivan  who  made  a  visit  to  Eoston 
some  time  ago ;  the  newspapers,  that  sometimes  give  more  place  to 
gentlemen  of  the  class  to  which  Mr.  Sullivan  belongs  than  to  emment 
preachers,  gave  a  very  specific  notice  of  a  reception  and  entertainment 
to  be  given  to  this  Mr.  Sulhvan.  You  aU  know  that  Boston  is  the  veiy 
centre  of  intellectual  activity,  and  a  lady,  seeing  the  announcement  in 
the  papers,  said  to  her  sou,  "  Charhe,  who  is  this  Mr.  SuUivan  to  whom 
this  reception  or  entertainment  is  to  be  given  ?  "  "  Why,  mother,"  said 
Charlie,  "  Mr.  SnUivan  is  head  of  the  pugilists."  "  Indeed ! "  she  said ; 
"  oh,  Charhe !  what  are  the  pecuhar  views  of  the  pugilists  ?  " 

Mb.  Neil  Lia'INQSTON  {Si/dne^/,  Australasia). 

I  will  not  waste  time  by  expressing  my  very  great  delight  at  being 
present  at  this  Convention.  I  will  only  say  that  it  has  been  worth  far 
more  than  the  jom-ney  of  12,000  miles  to  be  here.  I  have  been  seven 
years  in  the  United  iStates,  and  I  have  enjoyed  the  "  go  "  and  energy  of 
our  fi'iends  there.  I  confess  that  I  have  been  again  greatly  interested 
by  coming  here.  "What  I  want  specially  to  say  is  this  :  Although  you 
have  heard  httle  or  nothing  of  what  has  been  doing  in  Australia,  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  eai-nest  work  bemg  done  there  ;  and  the  desire  is  not 
so  nruch  to  have  more  of  it,  as  to  have  better  work  better  done.  As  you 
know,  AustraUa  has  lately  been  very  conspicuous  m  proclaiming  to  the 
world  that  there  we  have  the  very  best  examples  of  physical  manhood, 
the  best  rowers,  and  so  on,  showing  that  we  retain  somethmg  of  the 
stm-diuess  of  the  people  in  the  old  country  here.  I  hope  that  the  distant 
colony  of  Aiistralia  may  be  brought  more  in  touch  with  Sunday  school 
workers  in  om'  parts  of  the  world  than  we  are  at  present.  We  have  our 
regular  Convention  there,  just  as  yon  have  here. 


The  Means  to  he  Adoj^ted.  331 

In  Sydney,  wlucli  I  rcprescnl,  wc  lia\c  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
to  wliich  I  belong,  meetings  once  a  quarter,  sometimes  oftener ;  and 
occasionally  our  "quarterly"  meetings  extend  to  once  in  six  months! 
What  we  [)articularly  excel  in  is  in  retaining  our  senior  scholars  and  in 
liufcting  them  to  ■\vork  ;  but  mc  vant  to  learn  something  from  you.  I 
should  like  the  resolution  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Chuiruian  to  provide 
iu  a  more  especial  manner,  for  extending  a  helping  hand  to  us  in 
Australia.  I  only  wish  we  had  one  or  two  of  our  friends  from  Minnesota 
to  do  something  for  us  Australians  in  the  bush.  Australia  is  not 
such  a  little  country  as  their  English  friends  seem  to  think,  for,  if 
Great  Britain  were  put  into  some  part  of  New  South  Wales,  you  would 
require  a  mathematical  instrument  to  find  it.  I  do  not  include  Ireland; 
you  might  find  it  anywhere,  either  at  the  top  of  the  Himalaya  Moun- 
tains or  eren  at  the  North  Pole.  I  think  it  would  have  been  better 
to  have  given  a  place  in  your  progi-amme  to  Australia.  The  churches 
there  are  looking  on  at  this  meeting  and  rejoicing  at  the  work  that  is 
being  done  here ;  but  I  think  that,  at  the  next  World's  Convention, 
more  attention  might  be  given  to  the  welfare  of  the  teachers  and 
scholars  in  Australia  than  lias  been  given  at  the  present  gathering. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  {Chicago):  Australia  would  be  a  good  country  to 
hold  the  Convention  next  time.  We  ought  to  be  very  thoughtful 
about  the  question  how  and  when  we  slioidd  meet  again. 

The  Peesident  :  Between  this  and  then  our  friends  -nTll  have  an 
oppoi'tnnity  of  revolving  in  their  minds  whether  they  would  like  to 
travel  2-i,000  miles ;  but,  personally,  I  would  suggest  that  the  next 
Con^-ention  be  held  in  the  city  of  Paris. 

The  benediction  was  pronounced  and  the  session  then  terminated. 


,-       o  o  o       ^ 


FOUETH  DAY.— ELEYENTI-I  SESSION. 

Friday  Afternoon',  July  5th. 

EEVIEW  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

Me.  F.  F.  Belsey  preslduig. 

The  proceedings  were  opened  -witk  a  song  service  and  prayer,  the 
liymns  sung  being,  "  Sayiour-King !  in  hallowed  iinion,"  and  "Blest  be 
the  tie  that  binds,"  and  prayer  being  offered  by  Rev.  T.  H.  Marling  of 
Montreal,  and  tlie  Kev.  Hubert  W.  Brown  of  Mexico. 

The  President  then  said  :  "We  are  this  afternoon  to  have  a  Reriew 
of  the  Convention.  Perhaps  the  first  thought  of  a  review  is  the 
mistakes  that  have  been  made  ;  and  I  think  that  there  are  one  or  two 
points  whereon  we  may  feel  that  we  have  not  quite  satisfied  the  ideas 
with  which  we  came  here.  There  are  one  or  two  districts  that  I  think 
we  should  hear  somethmg  from ;  and  notably  among  them  is  om* 
sister-coimtry,  Ireland.  We  are  all  deeply  interested  in  the  future  of 
that  country.  (Cheers.)  I  shall  ask  the  Kev.  Thomas  Green, 
Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School  Society  for  Ireland,  to  make  a  state- 
ment as  to  the  position  of  the  movement  in  that  coimtry,  and  to  tell 
us  what  may  be  upon  his  heart. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WOEK  IN  lEELAND. 
Eev.  Thomas  Green  {Tipper arij,  Ireland). 

It  may  be  asked,  Mr.  President,  why  I  did  not  rise  this  morning 
when  you  mquired  if  there  were  any  other  delegates  that  had  anything 
to  say.  I  felt  I  had  a  great  deal  to  say  with  regard  to  Ireland ;  but  at 
the  close  of  the  meeting  I  felc  that  probably  you  were  anxious  to  get 
out,  and  that  I  could  not  say  my  say  in  the  very  short  time  which  was 
at  disposal.  There  was  another  thing  that  weighed  with  me,  and  that 
was  that,  looking  over  the  hst  of  delegates,  I  found  that  I  was  the  only 
one  that  was  mentioned  fi-om  Ireland.  I  do  not  know  if  there  are  any 
here  now  from  Ireland  except  myself.  If  there  are,  will  they  kindly 
hold  up  theu-  hands.  [The  speaker  paused,  but  there  was  no  sign  in 
response  to  the  appeal.] 

Well,  another  reason  why  I  did  not  rise  this  morning  was  that  after 
the  eloquence  and  nimibers  of  the  English,  Scotch,  and  American  dele- 
gates, and,  in  fact,  delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  I  felt  over- 


Sanilai/  Sdiool    Work  in  Iiclatul.  333 

whelmed,  and  being  naturally — I  speak  it  with  the  greatest  respect — of 
a  retiring  disposition,  I  felt  constrained  to  keep  my  seat.  The 
President,  however,  asked  mc  to  pronounce  the  Benediction  at  the 
close  of  the  meeting,  and  a  number  of  delegates  afterwards  sliook 
hands  with  me  ;  and  your  President  asked  me  if  I  would  say  a  few 
■words  this  afternoon  Avith  regard  to  Sunday  school  Work  in  Ireland : 
and  I  felt  constrained  to  give  you  a  very  short  account  of  some  of  the 
work  connected  with  the  Sunday  School  Society  for  Ireland. 

Looking  around  me,  I  see  on  the  platform  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  of  New 
York,  who,  some  27  or  2S  j'ears  ago  was  a  member,  and  an  active  mem- 
ber, of  the  committee  of  the  Society  in  Dublin,  and  who  I  am  sure 
will  be  able  from  his  o\ra  reminiscences  to  endorse  some  of  the  things 
which  I  am  going  to  say.  The  Society  was  established  in  the  year  1S09, 
in  the  month  of  November — you  may  call  it  eighty  years  ago.  And  it 
has  in  connection  with  it  to-day — I  will  give  you  the  acciu-ate  number 
— 1999  Sunday  schools,  attended  by  167,000  children,  and  taught  by 
15,000  Simday  school  teachers.  Now,  I  think  that  tliat  is  somethmg 
to  be  thankful  for.  Ireland  in  the  last  few  years  has  occupied  the 
attention  of  the  whole  world.  You  camiot  take  up  a  newspaper  of  a 
moi-uing  without  hearing  something  about  Ireland.  It  was  only  three 
or  four  months  ago  that  I  was  in  the  city  of  Manchester  ;  and  I  was 
asked  to  give  an  address  to  a  Sunday  school ;  and  the  clergyman  of 
the  parish  said  to  me,  "  We  want  sometlung  about  Ireland."  That 
brought  a  smile  to  ray  face ;  and  I  said,  "  If  you  take  up  the  news- 
paper in  the  morning,  you  will  know  a  great  deal  about  Ireland, 
perhaps  more  than  I  can  tell  you."  But  what  he  wanted  to  know  was 
about  the  religious  movement  and  the  Sunday  schools  in  Irelaud. 
Now,  our  great  aim  is  to  place  the  Word  of  God  in  the  hand  of  every 
clrild  in  our  Sunday  schools ;  and  we  look  to  Him  for  grace  for  teachere 
carefully  to  expound  the  Word  of  God,  and  that  in  every  way  the 
children  may  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  tlieh*  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ.  Now,  every  day,  I  may  say,  I  receive  accounts.  I  am 
not  able  to  travel  very  frequently  through  all  Ireland ;  but  I  am  in 
correspondence  with  the  supermtendents  of  all  om*  Sunday  schools. 

Just  two  years  ago,  whicb  was  the  year  of  the  Jubilee  of  Her  Gracious 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  the  committee  thought  it  woiUd  be  desu-able 
that  Ireland — or  at  least  the  children  attending  the  Sunday  schools  in 
Ireland — shoidd  express  in  some  way  theii-  loyalty  to  Her  Majesty ; 
and  they  du-ectcd  me  as  Secretary  to  the  Society  to  issue  to  all  tlie 
superintendents  and  managers  of  the  schools  in  connection  with  the 
society  a  cii-culai*  asking  them  if  they  would  jom  in  an  address  to  Her 
Gracious  Majesty — an  address  of  congratixlation  on  attaining  the 
50th  year  of  her  admmistration.  I  sent  out  that  circular  to  the  2000 
Simday  schools.  I  got  replies,  I  may  say,  from  almost  evei'y  one  of 
them  ;  and,  in  all,  there  were  just  14 — as  well  as  I  can  remember — 
who  said,  "  We  do  not  see  the  need  of  sucli  a  thing."  In  one  of  these 
14  replies,  the  clergyman  said,  "  We  have  no  Sunday  school  or  day 


33-i  ItcolcLD  (if  tlic   Cunvcnlimi. 

scliool  in  our  parish."  I  am  told  that  that  parish  was  one  of  thu 
nearest  parishes  to  America ;  it  was  in  the  south-^ACst  of  Ireland.  I 
shaU  not  mention  any  names  at  aU ;  but  being  an  Irishman  myself, 
and  mixing  very  mucli  with  Irishmen,  I  can  understand,  what  probably 
some  of  yon  cannot,  why  he  said  that.  lie  was  in  the  midst  of  a  very 
large  Koman  Cathohe  population;  he  had  yery  few  attenduig  his 
cliurch,  and  he  found  it  impossible — almost  impossible,  I  may  say  (I 
will  qualify  the  word),  to  get  a  Sunday  school  together  ;  and  so  he 
was  the  only  one  of  tlie  whole  2000  who  said  that  he  had  no  Sunday 
school  in  his  parish.  But,  su-,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  we  are  thankful 
that  we  can  see  much  fruit  arising  fi-om  Sunday  school  teaching  in 
Ireland. 

ThePEESiDENT  :  There  is  another  country  which  I  thmk  has  hardly 
been  autficieutly  heard  on  this  occasion,  and  especially  consideruig  the 
enormous  distance  which  the  friends  from  that  part  travelled  to  join 
us,  and  that  is  Australia.  We  have  several  Austrahan  delegates  here, 
and  I  shoidd  be  pleased  to  have  heard  a  word  from  one  of  them. 

Some  conversation  ensued  as  to  arrangements  for  the  pubhcatiou  of 
a  fiLlL  report  of  the  Convention,  after  which  the  President  called  on 
Mr.  Towers  to  read  a  report  on 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WOEK  IN  INDIA, 

I'reparecl  ly  Mr.  T.  J.  Scott  {Secretary  of  the  Indian 
Sunday  School   Union'). 

"  It  has  been  estimated  that  IncUa  has  50,000,000  of  children  that 
might  be  in  the  Simday  school.  No  mission  field  in  the  world  presents 
so  grand  a  sphere  for  the  Sunday  school  as  India.  There  is  no  other 
great  non-Cluistian  coimtry  so  fihed  with  secular  schools,  a  very 
large  number  of  wMch  are  mission  schools.  There  are  something 
like  225,000  pupQs  under  instruction  in  mission  aecidar  schools.  The 
missions  of  aU  denominations  have  overlaid  India  with  a  network  of 
stations  and  attendant  agencies.  In  the  almost  innumerable  villages, 
towns,  and  cities  of  this  vast  coimtry,  as  intimated,  milhons  of  children 
are  available  for  the  Sunday  school.  It  must  be  frankly  admitted  that 
the  missions  and  missionaries  as  a  rule  have  not  been  fully  awake  to 
the  importance  of  the  Simday  school  as  an  available  missionai-y  agency. 
Dr.  Cimnuigham,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  International  Missionary 
Union,  calls  attention  to  the  significant  fact,  that  apparently  by  the 
same  impulse  and  at  the  same  time  when,  in  the  providence  of  God, 
the  modern  missionary  movement  began  for  the  salvation  of  the  pagan 
world,  the  Sunday  school  enterprise  also  took  its  rise.  It  would  seem 
as  if  God  intended  the  two  to  go  hand  in  hand.  The  Simday  school  in 
its  spu-it  is  a  missionary  institution.  It  can  have  no  more  natural  and 
hopeful  field  than  missionary  work.  Dr.  Cunningham  insists  that  the 
Sunday  school,  as  a  missionary  ageucyj  ought  to  be  recognized,  and 


SiiikJkii  ScliiKil    Wall,-  ill  litiUa.  335 

]ii'o\isioii  niado  l)y  our  mission  boarils  lor  il.s  orifimizaUon  and  equip- 
ment in  all  mission  lielils."  And  yotonr  Indian  missions  have  not  been 
fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  .Sunday  school. 

"  As  long  ago  as  1872  the  importau'jc  of  the  Sunday  school  was  lu-ged 
in  a  paper  read  at  Allaliabad  before  tlie  Decennial  ^lissionary  Conference 
of  India.  The  organization  of  a  Sunday  Seliool  I'uion  for  pushing  this 
work  in  India  was  discussed.  Eut  the  matter  only  took  sha}ie  in  187(5, 
when  by  previous  up[)ointment  a  lunubcr  of  Sunday  school  workers 
from  various  parts  of  India  held  a  Convention  in  Allahabad  in  the 
interest  of  Sunday  school  work.  Eight  missionary  societies  were 
I'eprcseuted,  and  the  Indian  Sunday  School  Union  was  launched.  At 
II  following  Convention  a  more  complete  constitution  was  formed.  This 
constitution  provides  for  general  oQiecrs,  and  for  the  holding  of  con- 
veutious  in  -various  parts  of  India  w itli  a  view  to  stu-ring  up  an  interest 
in  Sunday  school  work.  Tliis  Indian  Sunday  School  Union  has  not  so 
far  accomplished  all  that  has  been  desuvd.  Difficulties  have  been 
encountered,  but  Ave  arc  not  discouraged. 

"  In  India,  m  some  directions,  there  is  a  lamentable  apathy  on  the 
subject  of  the  Smiday  school. 

"  Many  "^vho  seem  deeply  interested  in  mission  work  have  not  fidly 
woke  \ip  to  what  may  bo  done  through  the  Sunday  school  as  a  mis- 
sionary agency.  With  some  it  is  want  of  esprit  de  corps.  They  do  not 
seem  to  care  what  others  are  doing  in  this  matter.  They  are  content 
to  work  away  ou  tlieu"  own  lines,  independent  of  sympathy  or  co-opera- 
tion. Some  are  self-satisfied,  doing,  as  they  thmk,  well  enough  in 
Sunday  school  work,  and  not  caruig  to  aid  others  with  their  experience 
who  may  not  be  doing  so  well.  Some  do  not  make  much  of  the  Sunday 
school,  fearing  this  addition  of  missionary  woi'k  and  the  demand  for 
statistics.  To  overcome  this  apathy  and  remove  these  diHicidties,  and 
stimulate  this  great  Sunday  school  work,  is  a  steady  aim  of  the  Indian 
Sunday  School  Union.  There  is  a  great  Avork  to  bo  done  in  uniting 
the  missions  of  India  in  the  sympathy,  and  fellowship,  and  co-operation 
of  a  wide-spread  effort  to  reach  the  rising  miUions  of  India  through  the 
Sunday  school.  There  is  much  yet  to  be  realized  thi-ough  this  Sunday 
School  Union. 

"  Since  its  organization  wc  ha^e  held  a  number  of  Conventions,  and 
aimed  in  a  general  way  to  promote  Simday  school  work  in  India.  A 
Sunday  School  Manual  of  226  pages  has  been  pubUshed,  specially 
adapted  to  India.  For  a  time  a  Sunday  school  jomnial  was  pubhshed, 
but,  tlu'ough  want  of  support  and  from  difficidty  in  securing  editorsliip, 
it  was  after  a  time  abandoned,  although  demonstrated  to  be  a  very 
important  aid  in  Sunday  school  work. 

"  Something  has  been  done  m  the  way  of  forming  auxiliaries  to  the 
Indian  Sunday  School  Union.  The  tlu'ec  Methodist  Episcopal  Con- 
ferences, overlaying  tlie  great:;r  part  of  India,  have  been  made  auxiliaries. 
A  Bombay  Sunday  School  Union  has  been  formed  for  the  Bombay 
Presidency  ;  and  the  Enjputaua  Mission  of  the  National  Presbyterian 


336  lievicw  of  Ihc  Cunvention. 

Church  of  Scothind  has  formed  an  auxihavj  Union,  followed  more 
recently  by  ihc  Bengal  Sunday  Scliool  Union  for  the  Eengal  Presidency. 
Six  auxiliaries,  large  in  territory,  have  thus  been  formed.  Negotiations 
arc  gohig  on  for  the  Ibrmatioii  of  others.  As  yet.  this  work  is  in  its 
infancy  in  India,  Our  plans  are  yet  immature.  It  is  proposed  to 
overlay  the  entire  peninsula,  and  all  mission  work,  with  a  network  of 
luiions,  co-operating,  on  a  general  plan,  in  pressing  forward  tliis  most 
important  branch  of  missionary  work.  Our  plan  of  forming  auxiliaries, 
as  indicated  in  oiu-  "  Directions,"  is  this  :  "  The  Sunday  schools  of  an 
eutu'e  mission,  or  the  Sunday  schools  of  a  mission  grouped  in 
separate  provinces,  or  the  Sunday  schools  of  different  churches  in  any 
city  or  district  of  coimtry  that  may  wish  to  co-operate,  or  any  single 
Sunday  school  not  finding  co-operation,  may  be  formed  into  an  auxiliary 
mission." 

"  As  to  the  state  of  Sunday  school  work  in  India,  some'facts  may  be 
mentioned,  broiight  to  light  in  attempting  to  collect  statistics.  The 
irregularity  with  which  the  work  is  carried  on,  and  want  of  unifonnity 
in  method,  with  carelessness  in  responding  to  calls  for  information, 
render  it  diflicult  to  secure  accm-acy  in  statistics.  Some  large  missions, 
while  accurate  and  minute  in  then'  statistical  forms  for  other  matters, 
have  no  place  for  the  Smiday  school.  The  importance  of  this  work 
seems  to  be  variously  estimated  by  different  missions.  Out  of  thirty- 
six  societies  woi'king  in  India,  thirty  are  giving  attention,  with  varying 
interest,  to  this  work.  The  American  societies  give  most  attention  to 
the  Sunday  school.  Some  missions  report  more  Sunday  school  scholars 
than  there  are  students  in  the  day  schools  of  those  missions.  In  some 
missions,  doing  a  large  educational  work,  the  proportion  of  Sunday 
school  scholars  to  day  scholars  is  very  small.  Out  of  some  225,000  in 
the  mission  schools  of  India,  not  50  per  cent,  are  reached  by  the 
Sunday  school.  Statistics  for  the  Bombay  Presidency  are  the  most 
recent,  having  been  collected  for  a  Convention  held  for  that  Presidency, 
in  Bombay,  in  December  ISSS.  The  following  cxirious  and  significant 
facts  and  statements  are  here  quoted  fi.'om  the  Report  on  Statistics 
made  to  the  Convention  : — 

"  1.  Comparmg  the  Sunday  school  work  of  the  A-arious  societies  Vv^itli 
the  statistics  of  their  other  work,  it  becomes  evident  that  the  attention 
paid  to  this  mode  of  evangehzing  and  education  varies  considerably. 
The  American  societies  give  it  most  attention. 

"  2.  On  the  whole,  there  ai'c  net  so  many  childi'en  in  mission  Smiday 
schools  as  in  mission  day  schools. 

"  3.  Certainly  not  more  than  one-half  the  available  European 
Eurasian  children  are  in  Sunday  school,  and  not  more  than  one  in  500 
of  the  available  heathen  cliilch-en  are  in  Simday  school. 

"  4.  A  much  larger  percentage  of  the  native  Clu-istian  popula- 
tion than  of  the  European  population  is  engaged  in  this  work* 
Indeed,  a  discreditably  small  proportion  of  the  latter  is  engaged  in  this 
work. 


Sundaij  Srliovl  Work  in  India,  337 

"  5.  From  those  figures  it  may  be  gathcroil : — 

"  (a.)  TImt  only  1  in  400  native  ehildren  in  Bombay  Presidency 
attend  Sunday  school. 

"  (i.)  Tliat  only  one-half  of  tlie  Europoan  and  Eurasian  children 
arc  in  Sunday  school, 

"  (c.)  That  the  native  Christian  eonuuunity  furnishes  a  much  larger 
proportion  of  Sunday  scliool  teacliers  than  the  European  comnuinitv. 

"  {(I.)  That  the  American  missions  have  developed  this  branch  of 
work  much  better  than  others,  and  a  great  increase  would  result  if 
the  other  societies  came  up  even  to  their  standard." 

"The  International  Lesson  System  is  used  by  some  missions  and 
ignored  by  others.  On  the  whole,  the  .system  is  growing  in  favour.  It 
is  thought  by  some  that  a  mollification  of  these  lessons,  or  a  system 
devised  especially  for  India,  woidd  often  meet  our  Avants  better,  as  very 
frequently  the  Siinday  school  is  composed  entirely  of  non-Christians, 
requiring  peculiar  instruction.  This  subject  is  working  its  way  in 
India.  It  was  well  put  in  a  paper  read  before  the  recent  Convention  in 
Bombay. ' 

"  I  may  close  this  report  on  India  with  a  statement  of  what  our  great 
pressing  need  is  :  vi:.,  a  Secretary  for  the  Indian  Sundaif  School  Union, 
ivho  can  be  free  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  strength  to  this  one  tvork. 
A  missionary,  already  over-burdened  with  duties  representing  the  work 
for  wliich  he  is  supjiorted  by  some  particular  missionary  societv,  cannot 
be  expected  to  push  this  general  Sunday  school  enterprise  successfully. 
We  have  already  urged  the  Loudon  Simday  School  Union  to  secm-e  \13 
such  a  secretary,  and  his  support  for  this  work.  The  matter  is  still 
imder  correspondence  with  this  Union.  Some  correspondence  has  also 
been  had  with  American  missions  on  the  same  point.  The  importance 
to  mission  work  of  such  a  secretary  for  India  cannot  be  over-estimated. 
I  do  not  know  of  any  single  office  that  means  more  for  India  just  now. 
It  is  not  necessary  that  such  secretary  know  any  language  of  India, 
although  such  knowledge  would  be  helpfnl.  He  shoidd  visit  all  jmrts 
of  India,  urge  the  importance  of  Sunday  school  work,  stir  up  an 
interest,  forna  auxiUary  miions,  grapple  the  question  of  Sunday 
school  literature  and  appliances,  and  establish  and  maintain  some  kind 
of  a  Sunday  school  journal  for  India.  Such  a  man  might  be  found  in 
India.  The  salary  is  our  difficulty.  This  should  be  simply  the  ordinary 
allowance  of  a  missionary  with  office  and  travelling  expenses.  The 
last  would  be  met,  without  much  difficiUty,  by  the  places  visited.  The 
salary  might  be  put  down  at  2500  rupees  annually,  in  round  nimibers, 
and  might  be  something  less  for  a  single  man  and  more  for  a  married 
man.  This,  with  exchange  as  it  now  is,  would  be  about  £170.  As 
to  the  relation  of  such  a  secretary,  he  woidd  be  connected  with  the 
Board  of  the  Indian  Siuiday  School  Union,  and  woidd  be  answerable 
to  it  for  the  proper  discharge  of  his  duties.  If  supported  by  the 
Sunday  School  Union,  London,  in  some  way,  or  by  any  other  body  or 
society  desiring  some  control  over  the  man,  this  could  be  arranged.     If 

z 


338  Mevicw  of  tlie  Convention. 

the  Sunday  Scliool  I'liion,  London,  can  take  some  substantial  interest  in 
the  work  of  the  Indian  Sunday  School  Union,  it  might  be  well  to  make 
the  latter  in  some  Avay  auxihary  to  the  former.  Cannot  yoiu-  Convention, 
bv  committee  or  in  some  waj',  devise  a  support  for  a  secretary  to  our 
Union  ?     In  time  India  can  assume  this  bui'den,  but  not  now. 

"May  God  bless  the  World's  Sunday  School  Convention,  and  may 
vour  meetings  result  in  something  infinitely  better  than  mere  fine  talk 
and  splendid  platitudes.  Anytlung  that  sets  going  practical  far- 
rcacliing  plans  for  the  futm-e  of  the  Sunday  School  will  not  be  empt}' 
sound.  Such  Conventions  should  aim  at  something  very  practical. 
We  pray  that  the  good  things  done,  and  not  merely  said,  may  in  some 
way  reach  the  more  than  50,000,000  children  of  India." 

The  President  then  said  :  What  blessed  news  it  will  be  for  our  Bom- 
bay friends,  that  resolution  we  passed  tliis  mornmg.*  The  £225  -which 
^\  e  are  determined  to  spend  will  enable  oiu-  good  friends  in  India  to  set 
to  work  with  a  good  heart.  I  hope  some  of  our  Scotch  friends  arc 
here  as  we  wish  to  hear  more  from  Scotland,  the  home  of  Bible  study. 
We  should  be  pleased  to  hear  them,  we  might  hear  a  word  from  one 
representing  the  State  Church  and  one  representing  the  Free  Church. 

[After  a  pause,  to  give  opportimity  to  any  Scotch  delegate  to  come 
forward,  and  no  one  embracuig  the  opportnnity], 

The  Pkesidext  announced  tliat  Mr.  Petersen  from  Sweden  would 
addi-ess  the  meeting. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  :  He  comes  from  Sweden  by  way  of  America. 


WHAT  THE  BIBLE  HAS  DONE  FOE  SWEDEN. 

Eev.  Feank  Peteesen  {Minneapolis,  U.S.A.). 

I  have  the  honour  to  represent  the  Swedes  of  America,  who  in  a 
few  years  more  will  become  as  numerous  in  the  New  World  as  they 
are  in  theii"  parent  land.  Ah-eady  then-  numbers  count  upwards  of 
2  000,000,  and  every  Atlantic  steamer  lands  them  upon  om*  shores  by 
the  hundreds  every  week.  If  pi'ide  is  justifiable  at  all,  I  am  proud  to 
represent  them.  Their  traditions  point  to  events  as  honoiu-able  as  those 
of  any  nation.  The  part  they  have  played  upon  the  world's  stage  has 
been  well  carried  out.  Then-  keels  ploughed  across  the  trackless  ocean 
lono-  before  others  ever  dared  tO  leave  the  sight  of  land.  Tliey  set  foot 
upon  American  soil  600  years  before  ever  an  Enghsh  word  was  spoken  in 
the  new  world.  Then*  spuit  of  independence  has  asserted  and  maintained 
itself  throughout  the  ages.  Then-  kings  and  subjects  have  crossed  seas, 
fouo-ht  battles,  waded  through  blood,  and  given  then-  lives  for  rehgious 
liberty.  No  history  upon  religious  hberty  will  be  complete  without 
recording  the  struggles  of  Gustaf  Adolphus  for  religion  and  freedom  of 
conscience.  They  are  a  people  whose  piety  and  deeply  rooted  honesty 
is  second  to  none  on  earth,  yea,  a  people  among  whom  the  Bible  is  so 

*  See  page  328,  also  Appendix. 


T]  li(tl    tlir    liihlc    liiis   tloiir  J'lif   Sifrih-ii.  .'JoO 

uell  i-iiviil:ito(l  and  irad,  tlial  a  lumie  auioiirr  tlieiii  witliout.  (lie  Bililc  is 
ill!  oddity  indeed.  And  I  duubl  il"  very  many  of  siu-li  homes  can  be 
found  amouf;  them.  The  Sunday  school  is,  if  anytliin;;,  a  Bible  school, 
and  the  i)coi)les  that,  know  the  Bible  best,  and  follow  its  precepts  are  t lie 
peoples  that  ai-e  most  really  blessed.  I  want  to  tell  you  what  the  Bible 
lias  done  for  tlie  Swedish  people ;  what  poUlical,  social  and  religious 
blessings  have  come  to  us  have  come  tUroujih  the  means  of  the  Bible. 

T/ie  Blhle  has  lifted  ilie  SivedLsh  peopie  out  of  healheiulom.  When, 
over  a  thousand  ycai's  ago,  the  Gospel  was  preaclied  to  them,  it  was  as 
new  to  theu-  eai-s  as  was  the  wonderful  message  brought  by  the  angels 
to  the  shepherds  of  Bethlehem.  They  listened  and  discussed,  shook 
their  heads  and  doubted,  but  they  v/anted  to  hear  the  wonderful  story 
again.  Their  interest  became  thox'oughly  aroused,  and  they  referred 
the  matter  to  their  kmg.  The  missionary  Avas  permitted  to  tell  his 
story  over  agaui.  A  chief,  noticing  the  attention  of  the  kuig,  and 
fearing  some  new  ideas  might  be  introduced  and  so  spoil  the  people, 
arose  and  said:  "I  fear  that  the  introduction  of  new  ideas  amoii"  us 
will  not  work  for  good,  and,  as  for  a  new  Gfod,  wo  need  none ;  but,  if  the 
])eople  must  make  a  change,  I  propose  that  v.e  adopt  a  native  Swede." 
Whatever  this  meeting  residted  to  history  does  not  relate  ;  but  the 
Word  of  God,  there  proclaimed,  proved  to  be  the  "power  of  God  unto 
salvation." 

The  Bible  has  saved  Sweden  from  slavei-i/.  During  the  time  when 
the  Northmen  overran  the  coast  portions  of  Europe,  and  v.erc  a 
terror  to  the  nations  across  the  sea,  many  prisoners  of  war  were  taken, 
and  these  were  sold  as  slaves  ;  but  King  Birger's  conscience  had  been 
worked  by  the  stoiy  of  Christ  dying  to  save  mankind,  and  he  issued  a 
proclamation  prohibiting  the  sale  of  prisoners  of  war,  giving  as  a 
reason  that  they  cost  nothing  less  than  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  we 
have  no  right  to  sell  those  whom  Christ  has  bought  at  such  a  price ; 
and  slavery  has  never  smce  been  known  in  Sweden. 

The  Bible  has  saved  the  Stcedish  2^eoj)le  from,  the  Bope  of  Borne. 
Then*  necks  liaAC  also  been  galled  imder  the  oppressive  yoke  of 
Catholicism,  but  the  Bible  again  came  to  the  rescue  of  our  people. 
Olaus  Pctre,  a  student  fi-om  Sweden,  had  made  an  acquaintance  Avith 
Luther,  and  had  the  great  privilege  of  studymg  the  Bible  together  with 
him ;  the  message  from  heaven  so  captivated  his  soul  that  he  returned 
to  Sweden  and  read  it  to  the  king  Gustaf  Wa^ser,  who  thi-ough  its  divme 
influence  became  converted  and  afterwaixls  zealously  aided  the  preacher 
in  showuig  up  the  presiunptions  of  the  Pope  of  Rome;  he  broke  that 
yoke,  and  did  it  so  effectually  too,  that  for  the  last  300  years  nothing 
but  the  crumbling  ruins  of  Jesuit  monasteries  remam  to  show  that  this 
usurping  dragon  had  ever  switched  its  slimy  tail  upon  its  shores,  and 
now  no  people  are  more  thorouglily  Protestant  than  are  the  Swedes.  I 
liear  the  Catholics  are  preparing  to  put  forth  missionai"y  efforts  to  get 
lis  back  again  ;  but  it  is  too  late  now,  no  entrance  without  the  Bible. 
A  veteran  in  the  civil  wai-  in  America  climbed  the  Look-out  Moimtaiu 


340  Reiiew  of  the  Convention. 

the  other  day  -ivith  a  friend.  It  was  his  first  visit  since  the  day  of 
assault,  and  as  he  climbed  he  fought  the  battle  over  again.  As  the 
conflict  -waxed  hotter  he  grew  excited,  and  on  the  ari'ival  at  the  hotel 
near  the  summit  he  was  at  a  fever  heat ;  passing  on  through  the 
narrow  deflle  which  leads  to  the  xDinnacle,  he  was  confronted  by  a  guard, 
by  these  words  :  "  If  you  gentlemen  wish  to  get  to  the  top,  you  must 
pay  25  cents."  This  Avas  too  much  for  the  pent-up  feelings  of  the 
warrior,  who,  tragically  moving  his  strong  right  arm,  shouted,  "  I  won't 
pay  it.  Twenty-five  years  ago  I  came  up  here  with  a  sword  in  my 
hand ;"  but  the  modern  Leonidas,  displaying  a  sheriff's  badge,  quietly 
remarked,  "  Well,  sir,  the  times  have  changed  since  twenty-five  years 
ago  ;  then  a  sword,  but  now  it  is  a  quarter  of  a  dollar,"  So  say  tlie 
Swedes  to  the  Pope,  the  times  are  changed.  Whoever  will  do  mis' 
sionary  work  among  them  must  do  it  by  jneana  of  the  Bible. 

The  Pbesident  :  I  thmk  it  will  be  convenient  if  our  friend  Mr.  B.  F. 
Jacobs,  Chah-man  of  the  executive  eommitteej  brings  forward  now  twQ 
resolutions  he  has  to  propose. 

Statistical  Seceetaeies. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  :  It  seems  very  important  that  we  should  have  a  right 
basis  for  our  statistical  work,  and  a  clear  understanding  that  it  may 
be  begun  and  continued  in  a  way  that  will  be  satisfactory  to  lis  ;  and  I 
think  this  Convention  will  favour  the  following  resolution :  That 
Mr.  Fountain  J.  Hartley  (London),  and  Mr.  E.  Payson  Porter  (New 
York)  be  elected  Statistical  Secretaries  for  the  Convention ;  and  that 
the  statistics  be  thoroughly  revised  before  publication.  We  know  that 
many  mistakes  have  occiured  in  them  on  account  of  the  haste  with 
which  they  were  gathered.  It  is  desirable,  not  for  the  glory  of  man,  but 
for  practical  uses,  to  put  this  matter  as  clear  and  straight  as  cau  be,* 

The  resolution  was  passed  unanimously. 

The  next  Conventiok. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  :  I  also  move  the  following  resolution,  and  I  will 
say  that  place  and  time  have  been  inserted  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
question  before  the  Convention.  I  am  ready  to  agree  to  any  place  or 
time ;  but,  as  coming  from  America,  I  would  tu-ge  that  it  would  not 
seem  fitting  that  the  second  Convention  be  held  in  London.  I  beheve 
I  had  the  honom-  of  moving  that  the  fh'st  meeting  be  held  here.  I 
remember  speaking  to  Mr.  Towers  when  he  was  in  the  United  States  : 
I  mentioned  the  Convention,  and  spoke  of  London  as  the  place  to  hold 
it.  Mr.  Towers  said  :  "  I  don't  think  it  is  the  wisest  thing  to  hold  a 
Convention,  and  London  is  not  the  place."  Afterwards  he  wrote  to  me 
and  said :  "  I  was  mistaken  ;  I  believe  we  ought  to  have  a  Convention, 
and  London  is  the  place."  So  we  hve  and  learn.  (Laughter  and 
cheers.)     The  resolution  I  have  to  propose  is :  "  That  the  second  Con-. 

*  For  Statistics,  see  Appendix. 


TItc  Next  Convention.  o41 

Tcntion  of  Sunday  school  tlelogaU-s  from  all  parts  of  the  world  be  held 
in  the  year  1803  in  America,  the  date  and  particular  place  to  be  liei-c- 
after  fixed."  We  in  America  will  gladly  prepare  to  receive  you  if  you 
think  it  wisest  and  best  to  come.  33ut,  if  you  do  not  think  that  English- 
men are  quite  as  strong  in  the  epigastric  regions  as  Americans,  and  if 
you  feel  that  you  cannot  get  over  the  blue  water,  why,  we  will  come  here 
again.  (Laughter  and  applause.)  But  I  want  to  warn  you,  that,  if 
you  invite  us  for  a  second  time,  you  may  expect  to  sec  a  considerably 
larger  delegation  ;  for  this  little  company  will  grow  and  nudtiply ;  and 
we  are  likely  to  come  back,  not  in  one  ship  merely,  but  in  a  fleet. 
(Laughter  and  applause.)  If  any  tliink  tliat  it  would  be  better  to  n\eet 
again  in  Enghmd,  I  am  quite  prepared  to  listen  to  it.  As  to  the  time, 
■without  hastening  the  matter  unduly,  we  meet  together  again  as  soon 
as  possible  to  see  if  the  committee  we  apjjoiuted  are  doing  their  work  ; 
one  great  benefit  of  Conventions  is  to  turn  men  out  of  ofllcc  who  arc 
not  doing  their  work.  The  period  of  fom-  years  is  as  long  as  we  allow 
the  President  to  reign  in  America ;  it  is  a  long  time,  and  yet  perhaps 
it  is  as  short  as  it  is  possible  to  appoint.  I  am  particular,  too,  about 
the  year  1893,  because  it  is  the  year  of  om*  International  Convention. 
We  meet  triennially.  Let  me  invite  you  to  the  International  Sunday 
School  Convention  of  America,  which  will  meet  probably  in  the  latter 
part  of  next  year,  and  possibly  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  You  are 
all  invited,  with  your  wives  and  children.  In  our  Conventions  we 
\mdertake  to  care  for  all  the  delegates.  We  will  see  that  some  one  is 
appointed  to  take  care  eacli  one  of  you,  and  to  see  that  you  are  not  lost 
in  America.  (Laughter.)  We  will  have  a  guide  for  every  one  of  you  ; 
and  we  will  gladly  put  the  latcli-strmgs  out  and  open  all  our  doors,  we 
can  take  you  all  in.  (Cheers.)  If,  however,  it  is  preferred  to  hold  the 
Convention  in  London  or  elsewhere  in  the  United  Kingdom,  then  we 
should  prefer  1892  or  1894,  because  of  om-  Convention  meeting  in  1893. 
The  Pkesidext  :  May  I  ask  Mr.  Jacobs  whether  he  has  thought  of 
Paris  as  a  point  of  meeting.  I  tliink  many  of  our  EngUsh  fi'iends  who 
do  not  mind  a  little  of  the  "  briny  "  would  get  there,  who  might  not 
care  for  the  bigger  dose  of  " briny  "  OAcr  to  New  York  ? 

A  Delegate  :  Might  there  not  be  a  difficulty  in  language  in  the  case 
of  Pax'is — a  difficulty  wliich  would  not  exist  with  I'egard  to  America  ? 

Mr.  B.  E.  Jacobs  :  We  will  have  a  Convention  in  Paris  befoi-c  the 
time,  a  Convention  of  Erench-speaking  Simday  scliool  teachers ;  and 
this  committee  ought  to  aiTange  for  them.  I  think  there  should  be  a 
series — a  kind  of  chain — of  Conventions,  as  we  have  from  one  State  to 
another  in  America.  I  am  not  speaking,  however,  to  argue  that,  but 
to  reply  to  the  question  about  Paris. 

Mr.  McLean  (Montreal),  who  moved  an  amendment  in  favour  of 
Montreal  being  the  place  for  the  next  Convention,  said  :  I  do  not  like 
moving  an  amendment ;  but  I  think  Montreal  is  more  entitled  than 
any  other  place  to  the  bonour.  No  more  whole-hearted  people  are  to 
be  found  iu  the  world  than  at  Montreal.     They  have  given  the  best 


342  Revieiu  of  the  Convention. 

receptions  ever  gi\cn.  Canada  is  entitled  to  this  Convention,  While 
■we  have  not  got  the  population  of  America,  wo  are  hoping  to  have. 
We  are  -working  for  it.  (Laughter.)  There  is  only  one  regret  I  feel 
in  connection  ■witli.  the  present  Convention,  and  that  is  that  the 
London  newspapers  have  not  thought  it  worth  their  while  to  report 
these  proceedings  at  greater  length.  If  you  come  to  Montreal,  I 
promise  you  the  two  pages  of  T/ie  If'itness  shall  be  given  daily  to  our 
report,  which  you  will  be  able  to  read  at  tea  ;  and  the  next  day  you 
shall  have  the  balance  in  The  Gazette.  We  arc  a  rcadhig  people  iu 
Montreal,  we  like  to  see  what  is  going  on. 

After  some  conversation,  the  amendment  was  put  and  rejected  by  a 
large  majority.  In  the  course  of  further  conversation,  Mr.  Jacobs 
asked  whether  a  lai'ge  delegation  might  be  expected  from  England  to 
America,  and  he  explained  that  by  "large"'  he  meant  about  100. 
Several  delegates  then  inquired  what  the  cost  was  likely  to  be,  and 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  said  :  I  think  you  can  do  better  than  we  did,  and  get 
better  rate-  Our  rate  was  130  dollars  a  head,  or  £26,  which  includes 
he  voyage  from  New  York  to  London  and  return,  and  all  expenses  of 
the  stay.  I  believe  that  the  amoimt  may  be  reduced ;  I  think  it  can 
be  brought  down  to  £20  as  the  inclusive  fare  from  London  to  New 
York  and  back  with  all  expenses  paid  between  those  two  points. 

A  DELEaATE  :  You  may  omit  the  word  "  think  ; "  I  know  it  can.  I 
paid  120  dollars  for  my  ticket.     That  paid  all  my  bill. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall  :  It  is  very  clear  that  this  matter  involves 
a  great  many  details  which  an  assembly  like  this  cannot  discuss  openly 
with  dignity.  Would  it  not  be  wise  to  designate  a  committee  in  whose 
judgment  we  had  confidence,  which  committee,  in  say  two  years  from 
tliis  time,  would  come  to  a  decision  on  this  subject  and  pubhsh  it  ? 
Ill  Toronto,  in  1892,  there  will  be  a  very  large  assembly  of  Presbyterians, 
a  pan-Presbyterian  assembly  or  alhance  ;  and  in  the  same  year  there 
will  be  a  great  series  of  meetings— demonstrations — in  the  United  States 
in  celebration  of  the  400th  anniversary  of  the  earliest  visit  made  to 
America  from  this  side  of  the  water.  Besides,  who  can  teU  what  events, 
what  international  collisions  may  not  change  the  face  of  nations  in  the 
course  of  four  or  five  years  ?  and,  if  you  appoint  a  committee  in  whose 
judgment  and  equanimity  you  had  perfect  confidence,  you  would  get  a 
more  satisfactory  settlement  of  tliis  matter  in  two  or  three  years  from 
this  time,  giving  ample  time  for  all  the  arrangements  to  be  made. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  :  I  will  consent  to  strike  time  and  place  out  of  my 
resolution,  which  "nill  read  thus  :  "  That  the  second  Convention  of 
Sunday  school  workers  in  all  lands  be  held  at  a  time  and  in  a  place  to 
be  hereafter  specified  by  a  special  committee." 

The  resolution  was  put  and  luianimously  adopted. 

The  Peesident  :  We  are  all  glad  to  recognise  how  well  London  has 
been  entertaining  the  Shah.  We  have  fr-om  Persia  a  Presbyterian 
missionary  who  has  been  a  faithful  labourer  iu  that  country,  who  in  a 
few  words  will  tell  lis  hov,-  the  ship  was  launched  there. 


Sundai/  School   Work  in  Persia.  343 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  AV'ORK  IN   PERSIA. 

Tlie  Rcr.  William  L.  Whipple  (Talreez,  Persia)  said :  I  hnve  been 
about  two  montbs  trying  to  reach  this  Convention,  so  I  am  a  good  way 
from  home.     I  come  here  in  a  private  capacity  ;  I  have  not  been  sent 
here  as  a  delegate  from  Persia.     But  I  am  very  glad  to  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  telling  you  what  the  work  of  the  Lord  is  doing  in  a  distant 
laud.     Not  to  weary  you  with  statistics,  but  merely  to  give  you  an 
outline,  I  may  say  that  we  have  perhaps  3000  scholars  in  oiu  Sunday 
schools.     There  are  over  100  Sunday  schools  in  one  field,  consisting  of 
Oroomia,   Teheran,    Tabreez,   Hamadan,    and   Salmas.      Among    the 
Nestorians,  the  nominal   Christians,  we  have  five  stations  now  ;   and 
among  the  Khiu'ds,  the  mountaineers  of  Khiu-distan,  we  have  Sabbath 
schools.     I  do  not  wish  to  take  up  the  time  of  the  Convention ;    I 
could  tell  you  a  good  deal ;    but  I  have  only  two  points  I  wish  to 
emphasize.    The  first  is  that  Persia,  which  has  sent  her  first  great  repre- 
sentatives  to    do   honour   to    our    Court — the    ])oor    land — is   imder 
Mohammedan  ride,  and  the  name  of  Christ  is  not  honom-ed  as  it  ought 
to  be  ;  yet  we  feel  there  is  a  Christian  element  among  the  Nestorians 
and  Armenians — nominal  Christian  nations — which  had  preserved  theu- 
faith  imder   an  oppressive  Mohammedan  rule.      With  2000  church 
members  and  3000  children  in  the  Sabbath  schools,  besides  day  schools, 
it  may,  I  think,  be  considered  that  the  laud  of  Persia  is  coming  under 
the  reign  of  Christ.     And,  secondly,  I  wish  to  observe  that  the  visit  of 
the   Shah  to  om-selves  m  Great   Britain,  which  is   making  such  an 
imiDression,  and  which  is  the  thu-d  time  His  Majesty  has  dared  to  leave 
his  tlu-one  and  visit  Christian  nations,  is  an  extraordinary  event ;  and 
I  hope  and  pray  that  this  visit  of  the  Shah  may  be  blessed  by  God  to 
the  convei-sion  of  Persia  to  Christ.     I  ask  your  prayers  that  Persia  may 
be  redeemed  to  Chi-ist  soon,  and  that  the  visit  may  be  blessed  to  the 
furtherance  of  missionary  work  in  Persia.     (Applause.) 

Mr.  McCallum,  ascending  the  platform,  said :  I  think  it  is  a  pity 
that  no  one  shoidd  speak  for  the  land  of  Knox,  and,  as  no  Scotch  dele- 
gate rose  in  response  to  the  Chairman's  appeal,  I  take  it  for  gi-anted  that 
none  were  present.  Although  it  is  twenty-two  years  since  I  left  Scot- 
land, I  have  a  lasting  and  deep  remembrance  of  the  work  there,  and  I 
thought  I  could  speak  one  or  two  words  in  the  way  of  correcting  a  mis- 
take in  regard  to  Scotland  at  the  opening  of  the  Convention.  It  was 
stated  that  Scotland  was  late  in  reaching  Simday  schools,  and  the 
reason  given  was  prejuchce  on  the  part  of  the  mmisters  against  allowing 
any  one  to  undertake  rehgious  instruction  except  themselves.  I  do  not 
Uke  to  publicly  say  that  that  is  incorrect,  but  that  is  my  deep  convic- 
tion ;  and  the  reason  is  this,  from  the  days  of  John  Knox  downward 
the  idea  has  been  inculcated  that  the  rehgious  mstruction  of  cliildi-en 
should  be  done  in  the  home  ;  and  my  earUest  recollection  of  examma- 
tion  was  by  the  parish  minister,  who  came  round  o)icc  a  year  to  see  if 


344  Bcvieio  of  the  Convention. 

the  children  had  been  properly  instructed  by  theii-  parents.  The  pre- 
iudice  of  ministers  against  Smiday  schools  was  not  because  others  should 
not  imiiart  reht^ious  instruction  to  the  young,  but  because  it  was 
thouo-ht  it  ought  to  be  done  in  the  family  ;  and  I  think  the  suggestion 
from  America  of  home  study  is  just  the  Scottish  idea  of  instruction 
bein"'  given  at  home.  But  there  is  another  fact  which  the  writer  of  the 
paiier  did  not  take  into  account ;  and  that  is,  that  Scotland  is  homo- 
f'eneous  in  its  ecclesiastical  institutions.  It  is  not  broken  up  like  this 
country.  Instruction  in  the  Sunday  school  is  supervised  by  the  pres- 
byter. More  than  thirty  years  ago  I  was  Sunday  school  secretary  at 
Aberdeen.  But  the  school  committee  there  had  but  little  power,  being 
overshadowed  by  the  presbyter.  Therefore,  statistics  give  an  inaccurate 
idea  of  work  done  in  the  country.  I  think  it  is  only  fair  that  the  work 
done  in  the  coimtry  should  be  known.  I  can  only  express  again  my 
reo-ret  that  my  fellow- comitrymen  are  not  here  to  state  the  facts  much 
better  than  I  could  hare  done.  I  am  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  of 
stating  these  facts.  We  may  not  be  prepared  to  say  that  Knox  was  the 
first  or  the  second  among  our  education  reformers  ;  but  he  was  the  first 
to  urge  the  idea  that,  wherever  a  church  was  established,  there  should 
be  a  school  for  the  education  of  chUdren,  rehgious  instruction  being 
given  at  home  by  the  parents. 

A  poem  on  the   subject  of  the  Convention  was  here  read  by  the 
Author,  Miss  Jennie  Street  :— 

The  pvopbets  speak,  the  poets  Bins,  of  far-off,  goUlen  days, 
Wheu  round  tbe  raptui'cd  earth  shall  ring  one  triumph-hjann  of  praisCi 
Once    far  remote  that  glorious  time  ;   now,  more  than  ever  near 
Since'  we    from  many  a  distant  clime,  have  met  iu  union  here. 

More  near!  I  think  we  see  to-day  Ihat  splendid  reign  begim, 
"When  all  earth's  kingdoms  sliall  obey,  as  Lord  and  Christ,  God's  Son ; 
When  to  the  heaven  that  smiles  above  one  deathless  strain  shall  soal'^ 
"Gloiy  and  honour,  praise  and  love,  to  Jesus  evermore."   ! 

For  lo,  the  song  we  raise  to-day  shall  swell  but  never  cease, 
The  joy  that  gilds  our  homeward  way  shall  change,  but  to  increase; 
The  hands  that  Joined  to  part  are  knit  in  spirit-clasp  for  aye, 
And  one  in  aim,  and  one  in  heart,  are  we,  eternally ! 

And  now   to  every  zone  we  turn,  to  toil  in  many  lands ; 
But  with'new  faitb  and  love  we  bm'n,  new  courage  nerves  our  hands. 
Here    it  has  been  our  wondrous  lot  to  find  a  heaven  below; 
Henceforth,  about  us  each  a  spot  of  Paradise  shall  grow. 

Sn,  though  this  World's  Convention  end,  a  grander  one  shall  meet, 

When  we  and  all  the  saved  ascend  to  worship  at  Christ's  feet. 

A  great,  innumerable  throng,  of  every  tribe  and  tongue, 

Whose  fervent  lips  repeat  the  song  that  first  on  earth  they  sung. 

"VVe  join  that  song,   w-e  speed  that  hour,  our  yearning  praise  ascends — 

Now,  unto  Jesus,   gloiy,  power,  worship  that  never  entls ! 


THANKS  TO  THE  PEESIDENT  OF  THE  CONYENTION. 

Eet.  Dr.  Hall  (N'eio  Yorh)  :  I  take  the  hberty  of  making  a  motion 
wliich  I  shall  put  to  the  meeting.  Which  of  us  has  not  appreciated 
the  wisdom  and  affability,  the  urbanity  and  dihgence  with  which  our 
Chau-man  has  presided  over  this  Convention  ?     (Cheers.)     I  have  no 


Votes  of  Thanhs.  345 

need  to  expatiate  upon  what  we  have  all  witnessed.  I  move  that  the 
unanimous  and  cordial  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  given  to  liuu  for  the 
services  he  has  rendered. 

The  vote  was  carried  amid  applause. 

The   President,   in    returning   thanks,   said :    Dr.   Hall   and   my 
dear   friends,    I  very  heartily  thank   you  for  receiving  as   you   have 
done  the  very  kind  vote  proposed.      I  may   say  that  I  had  not  the 
slightest  idea  of  occupying  this  position.     In  Ireland,  unfortunately, 
tlirough  recent  events,  a  class  of  people  has  been  produced  called  "  emer- 
gency men,"   and  I  have  been  a  kind  of  emergency  man  in  occupying 
this  chair.     I  am  sorry  that  Ave  have  been  deprived  of  tlie  services  of 
one  whose  absence  has  been  an  occasion  of  great  loss  to  this  Comcntion. 
I  have  known  oiu-  dear  friend  Mr.  Elake  ever  since  the  Toronto  Con- 
vention ;  we  became  friends  from  that  horn-,  and  we  corresponded.     I 
was  lookuig  forward  with  great  pleasure  to  seeing  him  in  this  position. 
My  appointment  was  made  in  committee  before  I  knew  of  it ;  I  was 
pitched  upon  as  an  emergency  man  ;  I  took  the  duty  with  considerable 
reluctance ;  bnt  your  kmd  support  has  made  the  task  an  exceedingly 
light  and  cordial  one.     I  have  to  thank  the  Convention  for  their  kind 
support ;  and  I  wish  to  thank  oiir  Scotch  friends,  whose  ideas  I  rather 
share,  that  there  should  be  more  room  for  free  discussion,  for  the  hand- 
some way  in  which  they  withdrew  their  point.     But  probably  the  next 
Convention  may  be  so  outlined  as  to  allow  a  little  more  space  for  free 
discussion.     At  a  World's  Convention  it  should  be  the  aim  of  the  com- 
mittee to  take  care  that  those  friends  speak  avIio  are  best  fitted  to  speak. 
That  was  the  aim  of  this  committee,  and  they  tried,  so  far  as  they  could, 
to  fill  the  hours  of  this  Convention  with  speeches  that  they  thought 
would  be  well  worth  listening  to,  and  usefid  afterwards  to  read.     And  I 
think  we  have  cause  to  be  abundantly  satisfied  with  what  might  have 
been  a  weak  point.     We  do  feel  that  the  presence  of  the  Master  has 
been  present  throughout,  and  God  grant  we  may  go  back  to  our  work 
refi-eshed  and  strengthened.     We  all  hope  to  see  the  Sunday  school 
system  extended  in'every  land,  winning  young  souls  for  Clu'ist.  (Cheers.) 

THAifES  TO  Me.  E.  F.  Jacobs  {Chicago). 

Mr.  Fountain  J.  Hartley  said :  There  is  ona  other  motion  that 
should  be  made,  and  wliich  will  find  general  response.  Every  one  knows 
how  much  we  are  indebted  to  om*  friend,  Mr.  Jacobs,  for  the  life  and 
spirit  which  he  has  thi'own  into  this  Convention.  I  tliink  we  are  boimd 
to  express  oiu*  thanks  for  the  way  in  wliich  he  has  done  his  work.  We 
do  not  propose  to  make  this  a  universal  thanksgiving  ;  but  I  think  we 
must  not  separate  without  exprcssmg  om-  earnest  and  hearty  thanks  to 
Mr.  Jacobs  for  making  this  Convention  so  successful.     (Cheei-s.) 

The  Peesident  :  I  do  not  think  the  resolution  needs  a  seconder. 
(Hear,  hear.)  I  had  hoped  wheii  I  heard  that  Mr.  Blake  was  not 
comuig  that  Mr.  Jacobs  woidd  have  taken  this  chau',  and  taken  the 
full  helm  of  the  Convention  ;  but,  for  reasons  he  felt  to  be  strong,  he 


346  Iteview  of  the  Convention. 

preferrecl  not  to  preside,  and,  knowing  how  good  is  his  judgment,  I 
rehictantly  yielded  to  take  a  position  I  wonld  liavc  gladly  seen  him  in. 
We  all  feel  he  has  been  the  life  and  spuit  of  cm-  Convention,  and 
brought  a  vast  amount  of  zeal  and  enthusiasm  into  its  proeeedmgs. 
We  could  not  have  separated  without  this  tribute. 

The  resolution  was  carried,  the  meeting  rising  and  clapping  hands. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  said :  I  thank  you,  my  dear  friends,  for  yom-  kindness. 
It  was  one  of  the  di-eams  of  my  boyhood  that  I  might  visit  old  England 
and  Scotland.  I  was  not  born  in  England,  but  I  lived  there  before  I 
was  boni.  (Laughter.)  I  have  often  thought  about  it ;  I  have  often 
talked  with  my  mother  of  the  possibilities  of  visiting  England.  I  have 
often  thought  how  I  should  like  to  look  into  the  faces  of  men  of  God 
on  this  side  of  the  water.  There  are  men  here  that  I  owe  a  personal 
debt  to.  I  am  going  to  Manchester  to  see  the  wife  and  the  httle 
childi-en  of  one  EngUshman  that  did  great  things  for  me  under  God. 
And  I  desire  very  much  to  look  into  the  faces  of  a  few  more.  I  confess 
to  an  intense  desire  to  see  Spurgeon.  I  say  without  the  slightest 
hesitation — and  I  know  Enghshmen  will  not  mismiderstand  me — that 
if  I  could  see  only  one  of  the  two.  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty  the 
Queen  or  Mr.  Spm-geoii,  I  woidd  say,  "Let  me  look  into  Spm-geou's 
face."  (Cheers.)  I  tell  you  I  wish  I  knew  you  all  personally.  You 
have  been  very  kind  indeed  to  a  stranger.  May  God  bless  you  and 
yovu-  children,  and  your  children's  children,  and  pom-  into  your  hearts 
His  richest  blessmg  ^^ith  Scriptm-e  measm-e,  "  pressed  down,  shaken 
together,  and  rmming  over." 

The  Convention  owes  me  no  vote  of  thanks ;  and  the  brethi-eu  are 
mistaken  when  they  speak  about  my  bemg  the  hfe  and  spirit.  If  the 
hfe  and  spirit  of  this  Convention  did  not  come  from  the  Source  of  all 
love  and  all  power,  it  would  have  been  dry  as  a  desert.  (Cheers.)  The 
Som'ce  of  power  is  only  One,  and  the  place  of  strength  is  only  to  be 
found  at  His  feet.  We  have  got  close  to  His  side.  It  is  as  the  Eug- 
hslnnan  told  me  as  one  of  his  earhest  experiences  as  a  Chi-istian.  He 
said  :  "  I  was  called  to  visit  an  old  saiut  who  was  dying.  I  was  only  a 
sis  months'  old  baby  in  Christ.  I  said,  '  Would  you  like  me  to  read 
the  sweetest  verse  in  the  Bible ? '  'I  would,'  he  said.  He  turned  to 
the  fom-teenth  chapter  of  John  and  read  the  first  and  second  verses  : 
(1)  '  Let  not  yom'  heart  be  ti'oabled :  ye  beheve  in  God,  believe  also  m 
Me.'  (2)  'In  My  Father's  house  are  many  mansions  :  if  it  were  not 
so,  I  woidd  have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepai-e  a  place  for  you.'  And 
the  old  saint  looked  at  me  and  said,  '  My  boy,  that  is  a  very  sweet 
verse  ; '  but  he  continued,  '  Look  on  me,  my  son  ;  do  you  tliink  it  is  a 
mansion  that  this  old  head  is  longiug  for,  a  pearly  gate  that  these  old 
eyes  are  longing  to  see,  a  golden  street  that  these  old  feet  are  longing  to 
■walk  ?  No,  no,  boy ;  have  the  kindness  to  read  the  next  verse.'  And 
he  read  it  (the  tliii'd  verse), '  And,  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I 
win  come  again,  and  receive  you  imto  Myself;  that  where  I  am,  there 
yc  may  be  also.'     '  Now  rou  have  got  it,  my  bor,'  exclaimed  the  old 


Votes  of  TltanU.  347 

innn.  'It  is  tlic  Master  tliat  I  want.'"  (Cheers.)  Hcaren  would  bo 
a  dreary  plaee  without  Christ,  aiul  tlie  very  deserts  of  earth  are  made 
beautiful  by  His  preseuee.     It  is  Christ  who  gives  us  the  blessiug. 

A  very  touehing  tliiug  oeeurred  ou  the  last  Lord's  day  I  speut  at 
uiy  home.  There  was  seliool  in  the  iiioruiug,  aud  after  that  I  came  to 
meet  the  pastor,  aiul  at  the  class  he  asked  mo  if  I  would  step  up  to 
tlie  pulpit ;  and  with  a  few  kiud^  wonls  ho  eommouded  me  to  God,  aud 
wc  shook  hauds  together  across  the  Book.  That  touched  my  heart, 
but  not  so  uuu'li  as  another  thing  a  few  hours  before  in  school.  There 
had  been  a  little  fellow  iu  the  school,  one  of  those  restless  spirits  with 
whom  you  meet  at  times.  In  a  Chinese  school  there  is  said  to  be  a 
teacher  for  e\ery  scholar  ;  but  this  boy  required  two  teachers  to  liimself, 
one  to  hold  him  while  the  other  taught  him.  (Laughter.)  This  httlc 
fellow  was  the  terror  of  the  teachers ;  he  had  worn  out  the  patience  of 
the  assistant  superintendent,  and  never  gave  back  response  except  occa- 
sionally to  shako  his  head.  The  boy  had  a  loving  heart,  or  a  bright 
eye  at  least ;  and  when,  bidding  good-bye,  one  by  one  came  up,  most  of 
the  younger  boys  passed  by,  the  older  ones  stayed  and  shook  hands ; 
and  between  two  or  three  ladies  came  up  oxir  chubby,  rouud-headcd, 
rough  httle  boy.  I  took  his  hand,  aud  he  laid  his  head  on  my  shoulder, 
and  the  great  tears  dripped  out  on  to  my  coat,  and  he  just  passed  out. 
Nothing  touched  me  Uke  that.  I  said,  "  O  God,  if  we  have  only  got 
the  Christ-spirit,  tlie  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  with  us,  that  devotion  we 
need  and  Thou  art  able  to  give  ns,  we  can  win  the  most  difficult  boy  or 
girl  it  is  possible  to  get  into  our  schools." 

I  commend  these  boys  and  gu-ls  to  you  in  Great  Britain.  Be  patient 
with  them.  Let  us  be  persuaded  there  is  nothing  beyond  the  reach  of 
om*  JIaster's  love.  How  much  have  we  lost  by  our  carelessness,  and 
sacrificed  to  oxu'  selfishness  and  to  oiu*  pride  ?  AVhat  have  wc  not  lost 
on  account  of  ambition  ?  There  was  a  short  time  ago  before  me  one  of 
the  brightest  of  Norwegian  boys— a  boy  with  flaxen  hair  and  blue  eyes. 
One  Sunday  I  missed  him,  but,  liavmg  1100  to  look  after,  his  absence 
passed  out  of  my  mmd.  Next  Sunday  also  he  was  absent,  and  I  looked 
at  the  class  card.  They  had  drawn  a  lead-pencil  mark  across  his  name, 
and  they  had  written  the  word  "  Left."  I  said,  "Where  did  he  live  ?  and 
the  teacher  replied,  "  3S2  State  Street,  third  floor  in  the  rear."  I  went 
there,  rapped  at  the  door,  a  woman  came  and  opened  the  door,  and  I  saw 
the  hair,  the  colour  of  tlie  hau-,  and  the  eyes  of  the  little  scholar,  which 
told  me  that  it  was  his  mother.  I  said,  "  Where's  the  little  boy  ?  I 
am  the  Sunday  school  teacher."  She  said,  "  Come  in,"  and  there  on  a 
poor  cot  Avas  my  boy.  He  was  wrapped  up  in  an  old  cloth,  aud  his  face 
was  white  like  paper.     He  looked  up  and  said,  "  So  glad  you  are  come." 

There  are  some  not  glad  when  I  am  come,  but  glad  when  I  liave 
gone  away.  I  liaAC  been  weary  in  my  work,  and  discouraged  ;  but  one 
look  at  such  a  boy  and  such  a  word  from  him  is  enough  to  repay  a 
man.  I  now  felt,  when  Jesus  Clu-ist  speaks  the  matchless  words, 
"  \\i:\\  done,"  they  v.ill  empty  the  sorrow  of  earth  as  a  cup  turned 


348  lievievj  of  the  Convention. 

upside  down.  I  asked,  "  What  is  tlie  matter  ?  "  He  said,  "  I  climbed 
up  on  a  housetop  and  fell  down  and  knocked  a  hole  in  my  head  ;  they 
think  I  die  ;  I  think  I  die  too."  I  felt  his  pulse,  and  I  found  to  my 
great  joy  that  he  ^vas  getting  on  -well,  and  Avoidd  probably  recover. 
The  next  time  I  was  in  the  school  I  went  up  to  the  teacher,  and  got 
the  card  ;  I  took  up  the  card,  and  after  the  word  "  Left "  I  wrote  m 
addition,  "  by  a  careless  teaclier  to  die  with  a  hole  in  his  head,  382 
State  Street,  thu-d  floor  in  the  rear."  (Cheers.)  Our  work  is  a  personal 
work.     We  are  dealing  -with  a  personal  Saviour. 

Brother,  you  cannot  live  a  second  on  the  faith  of  aU  the  men  in  tliis 
liouse  besides  yourself.  It  is  the  personal  knowledge  of  Christ ; 
workmg  for  personal  souls,  for  whom  a  personal  Saviom*  died,  and  got 
back  the  blessings  sin  had  lost.  Let  us  go  out  refreshed  with  the 
presence  of  God.  Let  us  go  out  im])ressed  with  the  fact  that  the  Lord 
om*  God  is  going  before  us  to  be  our  vanguard,  and  beliind  us  to  be  om* 
rearguard,  going  -with  us  to  give  us  sti'ength  for  our  work.  I  thank  you 
much.  God  bless  you  in  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Holland,  Denmark, 
Sweden,  and  Norway,  and  indeed  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth 
from  wliicli  you  have  come ;  and  bring  us  to  His  feet,  where  we  shall 
look  into  His  blessed  face ;  and  to  His  right  hand,  where  there  are 
pleasures  for  evermore.     (Cheers.) 

A  Canadian  Delegate  :  I  wish  to  say  a  word  about  Mr.  Jacobs. 
I  met  hin\  only  to  love  him,  and  on  one  occasion  I  could  not  help 
putting  my  arms  round  his  neck  and  kissmg  liim.  The  longer  you 
know  Brother  Jacobs  the  more  you  love  him.  I  am  only  sorry  he 
cannot  be  spared  to  go  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland.  There  will  go  back  with  him  the  prayers,  and 
^^■ishes,  and  aspu-ations,  and  desires  of  this  people. 

Thanks  to  Hon.  Secretaries  of  the  Sunday  School  Union. 

The  President,  in  moving  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  secretaries,  said  : 
They  have  performed  a  work  of  untold  value  without  receiving  a 
soUtary  penny  of  compensation  ;  and,  so  far  fi'om  that,  I  ha-^'e  seen,  in 
addition  to  the  hard  work  they  do,  their  names  down  for  handsome  sub- 
scriptions, such  as  £100  for  the  work  of  the  Sundaj-  School  Union.  We 
owe  to  Mr.  Hartley,  Mr.  Tresidder,  Mr.  Towers,  and  the  others  a  debt  of 
deep  gratitude.  You  will  perhaps  assent  to  this  by  a  shout  of  "  Agi'eed." 

The  shout  was  enthusiastically  accorded,  and 

Mr.  Towers  acknowledged  the  vote  on  behalf  of  himself  and  col- 
leagues, and  added  :  We  shall  meet  again  this  evening,  and  I  believe  we 
shall  have  the  presence  of  the  Master.  We  are  looking  forward  to  the 
meeting  as  to  a  kmd  of  climax.  I  feel  one  certain  result  will  be  the 
extension  of  Sunday  schools  m  India,  and  one  would  thank  God  if  that 
were  the  only  result  of  the  Convention. 

The  doxology  was  then  sung,  and  the  benediction  was  afterwards 
pronomiced  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Hall,  the  assembly,  after  the  American 
custom,  linking  hand  in  hand  to  reoei^'e  it. 


(     349     ) 


CLOSING  MEETING-  AT  EXETER  HALL.     , 

Helb  on  Friday  Evenikg,  July  5th. 

A  grand  closing  meeting  was  held  at  Exeter  Hall  under  the  presi- 
dency of  Lord  KlNNAIKD. 

The  hymn,  "  With  holy  joy  now  let  us  greet,"  having  been  sung, 
Mr.  McLean  of  Toronto  read  the  34th  Psahn. 
Bev.  J.  T.  Briscoe  (London)  engaged  in  prayer. 
The   President,   who   was    received   with   cheers,  said :    Christian 
friends,  may  I  just  say  that  as  we  have  a  number  of  speakers  the  time 
allotted  to  each  is  twentv  minutes.     One  friend  told  us  last  night  that 
Sunday  school  teachers  and  speakers  ought  to  be  careful  not  to  break 
the  commandments,  especiaUy  that  one  which  says,  "Thou  shalt  not 
steal"     (Laughter.)     Let  us  remember  this  and  I  will  ti7  and  set  a 
aood  example.     I  promise  you  I  will  not  keep  you  long.     As  President 
of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  I  thhik  our  fii-st  duty  should  be  to  give 
thanks  to  aod  for  the  blessings  of  the  last  fom-  days.    (Cheers.)    We  m 
this  country  have  been  lookmg  forward  with  expectation  to  a  visit  f^-om 
ovcc  friends  from  all  over  the  world.    I  tliink  I  am  right  m  stating  there 
has  never  been  such   a   representative  Convention  of  Sunday  school 
workers  before.    Of  com-se  ch-cumstances  have  contributed  to  this  result. 
We  have  beautiful  steamers,  mcreased  train  service,  and  everytlung  to 
facihtate  a  gathermg  like  this.    Still,  I  think,  it  does  mark  an  increasing 
interest  in  Sunday  school  work.  ,     •      /  ,        \ 

We  have  here  a  noble  band  from  the  Australasian  colonies  (cheers) 
led  by  Mr  Hitchcock,  whom  we  shaU  have  the  pleasm-e  of  heai-mg 
presently  We  most  heartily  welcome  oiu'  feUow-coimtrymen  from 
Austraha  and  New  Zealand  :  I  hope  they  will  come  over  here  frequently 
and  interchange  experiences  with  us.  Then,  our  Canadian  friends  we 
welcome  most  heartdy.  (Cheers.)  There  is  Mr.  McLean  A\e  ai-e 
ekd  to  see  people  from  Canada,  Austraha,  and  the  United  States  with 
L  names  one  knows.  (Cheers.)  Many  of  us  ai-e  Scotchmen,  and  we 
feel  quite  at  home  when  we  hear  of  Mr.  McLean  and  many  otbers  with 
the  old  names  coming  back  to  the  old  countiy.  We  wish  them  heartily 
God  speed  m  the  good  work. 

It  is  the  wish  of  the  Committee  that  tliis  meeting  shall  not  be  m  any 
way  formal.    I  am  glad  to  say  that  votes  of  thanks  and  aU  that  kind  of 


350  ClosJng  Mecthifj  at  Exetcv  Hall. 

thing  at  Christian  Conventions  is  fast  going  out  of  fashion.  (Hear, 
hear.)  We  meet  for  thanksgiving  ai\d  consecration.  And  we  have 
cause  for  thankfulness.  Our  British  Delegates  licre  represent  some 
5,500,000  scholars  and  500,000  Sunday  school  teachers. 

In  the  United  States  there  is  an  army  of  8,500,000  scholars  and 
nearly  1,500,000  teachers,  and  I  do  not  know  how  many  hundreds  of 
thousands  ui  Australia  and  on  the  Continent.  We  shall  hear  presently 
Coimt  BernstoriF  from  Grermany.  (Cheers.)  We  rejoice  to  know  that 
in  that  land  of  Luther  the  Gospel  is  spreading  and  the  Sunday  school 
movement  is  making  wondi'ous  progress.  One  thing  I  have  learned 
dm'ing  tlie  past  few  days — perhaps  tlie  first  and  most  important  tiling — 
that  we  have  been  called  to  fi-esli  consecration.  And  I  doubt  not  that 
to  this  call  there  will  be  a  general  response.  We  have  been  reminded 
that  if  we  do  not  get  the  children  before  they  are  twelve  or  fourteen 
years  old,  they  may  be  lost  to  the  church.  (Hear,  hear.) 

There  are  forces  of  evil  which  perhaps  appear  in  this  great  city  with 
greater  power  each  year  with  which  Christian  workers  will  have  to 
contend,  and  I  think  you  and  I,  and  aU  of  us  who  take  an  interest  in 
tliis  work,  if  we  do  not  get  the  childi-en  as  children,  the  chm-ch  will  not 
get  them  at  aU.  I  believe  seriously,  imless  we  get  them  mto  ohiu-uh 
membership  and  luxked  to  the  chiu-ch  system  before  they  start  in  the 
world  we  sliall  lose  them  altogether.  In  the  Simday  school  wo  deal  with 
the  mUlions  of  our  land,  with  those  who  will  be  the  ma-sters  of  the 
situation  ten  or  twenty  years  hence. 

The  next  thing  we  have  to  learn  is  that  we  have  got  to  give  the 
scholars  something  worth  listening  to.  We  heard  last  night  a  typical 
black-board  lesson  (cheers) ,  and  I  think  I  coidd  tell  you  almost  all  the 
points.  I  do  not  know  that  I  could  repeat  them  off,  but  I  hope  I  have 
got  them  somewhere  in  my  memory.  (Laughter.)  I  was  in  New  York 
eighteen  months  ago.  You  know  they  move  pretty  quickly  there,  and 
I  heard  a  good  many  people  speaking  and  preaching,  but  I  do  not 
remember  much  of  what  I  heard.  I  went  into  a  wonderfid  Sunday 
school,  where  a  lady  was  teaching  a  class  of  900  mfants.  She  had  been 
talking  about  a  quarter  of  an  hoin*  when  I  entered,  so  I  cannot  teU.  you 
the  beginning  of  it.  But  there  was  a  great  blackboard,  about  fifteen 
feet  square,  and  it  took  the  teacher  six  days  to  put  her  lesson  on  the 
board.  I  could  go  through,  I  think,  every  point  of  the  lesson  she 
taught  those  children.  It  just  confii-ms  what  was  said  last  night,  that 
we  learn  quicker  with  om-  eyes  than  with  our  ears.  Fortiuiately  there 
was  no  one  present  to  distract.  The  teacher  took  care  of  that.  It  was 
a  wonderful  sight.  What  the  fiiend  said  I  believe  to  be  absolutely 
true.  We  mxisb  get  hold  of  thoroughly  efficient  teachers  if  we  are  to 
keep  oiu-  childi'en.  We  want  to-night  to  get  a  fi-esh  impulse.  And  it 
does  us  good  to  meet  together  in  these  Conventions.  I  hope  we  may 
have  more  of  them.  If  any  of  our  American,  Australian,  Canadian,  and 
German  fi-iends  wdl  pay  xis  another  visit,  we  wiU  give  tliem  a  hearty 
welcome  ;  and  if  they  liko  to  invite  some  of  us  we  vnH.  make  a  retiu-u 


CIokIiii/   Mccliiii/   (il   F.ntcy  Jfitll.  o51 

visil.  Sometimes  we  may  £;et.  from  a  straiigi-r  or  brotliei- abro:ul  wliafc 
■\vo  eannoir  get.  at  liome.  A  i)ropliet  is  not.  esteemed  in  hi:)  own  eoiintrv. 
Some  who  are  going  away  may  think  more  of  us  than  our  own  friends 
do  here.  (Laughter.)  Tlie  committ^'c  are  arranging  for  tlio  brcthi-cn 
to  visit  many  of  our  kirge  towns  during  the  eoming  autumn.  AVc  want 
to  know  how  to  roaeh  our  teachers.  Friends,  we  want  to  go  forward 
and  to  win  the  young  for  Clirist,  and  in  oin-  schools  train  them  for  the 
service  of  that  Saviour  whom  we  liave  learned  to  love  and  serve. 

Mr.  G.  M.  HiTCUCOCK  {Geelouj,  AmtraUa) ,  who  was  called  upon  to 
address  the  meeting,  said :  I  thiiik  you,  sir,  and  the  membci-s  of  the 
Convention  assembled  here  will  agree  with  me  that  up  to  tliis  point 
they  have  heard  very  little  about  Australia.  But  to-night,  as  far  as 
this  crowded  place  is  concerned,  makes  amends  for  any  apparent  neflect. 
I  must  correct  your  lordship  in  one  respect.  I  have  not  come  over  on 
jjurpose  to  attend  the  meetings  of  this  Convention.  After  twenty- 
eight  years'  work,  I  felt  I  was  entitled  to  a  holiday  with  my  lamilv, 
and  that  liappeus  to  bring  us  here,  and  as  an  old  Sunday  school  worker 
I  am  exceedingly  pleased  to  attend  this  meeting.  I  was  just  afraifl 
that  Australia  was  not  going  to  be  lieard  at  all,  and  I  had  to  overcome 
my  natural  diffidence  when  it  was  suggested  that  I  should  sav  a  few 
words  about  our  country  and  work.  (Hear,  hear.)  You  know  that 
Australia  is  one  of  the  most  important  and  bcautifid  parts  of  the  globe. 
(Cheers  and  laughter.)  It  is  one  of  the  largest  certainly,  and  let  me 
convey  this  to  your  mind  in  a  few  words  by  saying  you  could  put  down 
England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland  twenty-five  times  over  in  our  eountrv, 
and  still  have  a  little  room  to  spare.  And  let  me  for  the  benefit  of  our 
American  friends — (loud  laughter) — remind  them,  that  omitting  Alaska 
— I  do  not  know  why — we  are  some  17,439  square  miles  in  excess  of 
the  United  States.  (Laughter.)  There  is  not  much  in  that,  pei-haps, 
after  all ;  it  is  the  people  we  have  in  it  that  is  the  great  thing.  Well, 
our  population  is  a  smaU  one  compared  with  the  United  States  ;  we 
hardly  reach  4,000,000,  but  in  fifty  years'  time  we  shall,  wo  hope,  with 
all  that  country  at  oiu-  back  and  with  all  these  facilities  for  absorbmg 
popidation,  ha\e  20,000,000  of  people,  and  our  population  every  year 
will  grow  larger  and  larger.  Well,  now  you  will  understand  that  wo 
are  a  transplant.  We  came  over  from  the  old  country  or  neighbouring 
colonies,  and  brought  with  us  our  home  life,  om-  national  life,  oiu- 
religious  life. 

First,  our  home  life.  I  tell  you  we  are  as  comfortable  there  in 
oiu*  homes  as  you  are  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  perhaps  more  so, 
because  there  are  more  people  there  who  have  homes  than  there  are 
in  any  other  part  of  the  British  Empire.  As  to  national  life,  we  have 
parliaments,  ministries,  politics,  newspapers,  and  schools.  We  have 
a  large  broad  educational  system ;  then  our  reUgious  life,  the  most 
important  of  all.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  hail,  I  look  back  with  gi-atitude 
to  those  who  in  the  eai'ly  days  of  the  colonies  planted  the  staiidard  of 
the  Cross  there,  representatives  of  all  the  Christian  churches  in  this 


352  Closing  Meeting  at  Exeter  Rail. 

land,  and  wliercver  we  have  planted  a  clmrcli  in  most  instances  we 
have  planted  a  Sunday  school.  (Heai',  hear.)  We  have  a  large  number 
of  Sunday  schools  in  Axistralia.  The  Americans  had  got  their  numbers 
printed  on  placards  at  the  Convention.  Australia  conld  have  done  the 
same  thing,  but  it  did  not  happen  to  do  so.  I  am  not  responsible  for 
it.  Let  me  say  we  have  in  Australia  5400  schools,  500,000  scholars, 
and  45,000  teachers.  (Cheers.)  Well,  now  we  planted  our  schools  on 
the  good  old  Englisli  plan.  (Hear,  hear.)  I  thought  somebody  would 
say  "hear,  hear,"  but  that  is  a  mistake.  (Laughter.)  T  will  tell  you 
two  mistakes  in  connection  with  it.  First  the  mistake  that  the  schools 
were  for  the  poor — (hear,  hear) — and  then  the  other  mistake  that  they 
were  only  for  children.  (Hear,  hear.)  Now,  it  has  taken  a  good  deal 
of  hard  work  to  knock  down  these  two  mistakes.  It  was  comparatively 
easy  to  knock  down  the  first,  for  this  reason,  we  are  an  essentially 
democi-atic  community — (heai*,  hear) — and  so  long  as  cliildren  are 
clean  and  tidy,  and  come  to  school,  it  does  not  matter  whether  the 
father  or  mother  is  worth  £50  or  £50,000.  But  the  other  matter 
abovit  the  children,  that  is  not  qviite  so  easQy  got  rid  of. 

If  you  ask  the  abstainiiig,  colonial  youth  why  he  does  not  come  to 
school,  he  will  tell  you  there  are  notlung  but  kids  there.  (Laughter.)  It 
has  taken  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  to  get  rid  of  that  idea.  The  school 
in  which  I  labour  was  one  of  the  first  to  do  this.  We  built  large  class 
rooms,  carpeted  them,  put  chairs  in  them,  and  made  them  in  every  respect 
miniatm'e  parlours ;  that  is  one  way  to  attract  senior  scholars.  And 
another  way  we  found  effectual  was  in  getting  together  a  magnificent 
Hbrary  in  our  school.  There  are  only  500  scholars,  and  we  have  3000 
volumes.  (Cheers.)  Not  dry  reading,  we  don't  believe  in  that.  We 
believe  in  putting  books  in  the  library  that  are  thoroughly  imbued 
with  Christian  truth,  and  yet  written  in  a  thoroughly  interesting 
manner.  (Hear,  hear.)  Well,  the  effect  of  that  has  been  that  m  our 
own  school  half  the  senior  division  are  over  fom-teen  years  of  age. 
Now,  I  admit  that  that  idea  is  in  no  sense  original.  We  have  borrowed 
this  idea,  as  most  of  our  steady  progressive  ideas,  from  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  therefore  we  ai-e  glad  of  their  publications  and  use  them 
wherever  we  have  an  opportunity.  More  splendid  colom-ed  cartoons 
than  those  shown  during  the  Convention  we  have  in  our  Sunday  schools 
every  Sunday.  We  have  from  America  some  of  the  finest  library  books 
written.  I  may  mention  one  author  and  you  will  see  in  which  direction 
our  taste  lies  ;  that  is  a  lady  who  writes  under  the  name  of  "  Pansy." 
We  tise  the  American  books,  we  read  the  American  papers,  and  follow 
as  closely  as  we  can  the  American  ideas,  in  fact  we  copy  any  ideas  worth 
copying.  (Laughter.)  The  one  thing  we  aim  at,  of  com'se,  is  the 
conversion  of  the  young  people  committed  to  om*  care,  and  we  use 
every  means  we  can  for  that  pm-pose — special  services,  personal  contact, 
■v\Titten  letters,  anything,  anywhere,  and  everywhere,  that  will  have  tJie 
effect  of  bringing  our  young  people  to  decision  for  Christ.  It  was  very 
true  what  his  lordship  said  about  two  parties  bidding  for  the  possession 


Clusintj  Meeting  al  Exeter  Hall.  353 

of  the  souls  of  tlieso  cliiklrcii.  Tlierc  are  two  sets  in  the  Colonies.  Wo 
luvist  figlit  for  tlieui,  woi-k  for  (hcui,  and  luako  it  our  daily  prayer  and 
effort  to  win  the  young  for  Clu-ist.  Tlierc  arc  two  special  conditions 
in  connection  with  our  work  in  Victoria  which  I  woukl  like  to  refer  to. 
The  first  is,  we  have  our  Education  Act,  which  is  rabidly  secular.  I  will 
pro\  c  that  by  this  remark,  that  out  of  the  common  I'cading-book  in  use 
in  the  day  schools,  they  have  eliunnated  not  only  every  reference  to  the 
Deity,  but  every  reference  to  the  w  orld's  Saviour.  In  such  a  beautiful 
poem  as  Burns'  "Cotter's  Satiu-day  Night"  one  vei'se  which  gave  a 
charm  to  the  whole,  and  which  I  may  describe  as  a  daily  prayer,  was 
cut  out  in  a  spirit  of  rabid  secularism.  We  did  protest  against  that — 
(cheers)  — and  the  Minister  of  Education,  under  considerable  pressure 
from  the  Christian  churches,  has  promised  in  the  next  set  of  reading 
books  that  the  passage  shall  be  restored.  (Cheers.)  The  other  con- 
dition we  have  to  fight  against  is  the  disposition  of  a  large  number  in 
the  colony  to  make  the  Sabbath  instead  of  rest  a  day  of  worship  and 
Christian  work — to  make  it  a  day  of  amusement,  and  I  I'cgi-et  to  say 
that  the  newspapers,  most  of  them,  largely  support  this  idea.  That 
requires  us  as  Christian  workers  to  be  thoroughly  consistent  ourselves 
to  guard  the  Sabbath  by  our  example  as  well  as  by  our  precept  fi-om 
every  possible  innovation.  Steps  have  been  taken  from  time  to  time  to 
open  our  museums  and  picture  galleries,  on  the  plea  that  the  working 
men  want  it.  They  tried  it  a  few  weeks,  and  soon  found  that  the 
working  men  did  not  want  it,  and  the  consequence  was  petitions  poured 
into  our  ParUament  to  such  an  extent  that  the  trustees  of  the  picture 
gallery  were  compelled  to  retrace  then*  steps  and  close  them.  (Hear, 
here.)  Well,  friends,  this  Convention  means  a  great  deal,  I  am  sure,  to 
all  of  us.  It  has  been  an  education  to  me  as  well  as  to  others — an 
inspiration  to  me !  It  is  impossible  to  meet  with  the  minds  associated 
with  Sunday  school  work  throughout  the  world  without  gainmg  some- 
thing, and  I  shall  look  back  to  my  visit  here,  to  the  sittings  of  tliis 
Contention,  as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  profitable  events  in  con- 
nection with  my  visit  to  Em-ope.     (Cheers.) 

The  PfiESiDENT  :  I  got  an  idea  a  short  tune  ago  of  the  size  of  Aus- 
tralia through  an  engineer.  He  told  me  he  was  measuring  it,  and  he 
found  it  woidd  not  go  into  the  Atlantic  between  Ireland  and  New 
Tork.  (Laughter.)  That  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  size  of  it. 
Some  people  have  an  idea  that  if  they  go  to  Australia  they  must  come 
across  our  brother  and  fi-iend.  Remember  it  is  3000  miles  aci'oss.  Pro- 
])ably  they  will  invite  us  over  there  to  a  Convention. 

The  first  part  of  the  hymn,  "  All  liail  the  power  of  Jesu's  name"  was 
then  sung,  after  which. 

Count  Berkstoeff  said :  My  lord  and  dear  Chi'istian  friends,  the 
speaker  who  just  spoke  before  me  said  that  he  had  not  come  over  on 
purpose  for  the  Convention.  Now,  if  you  were  going  to  ask  me  on  my 
conscience  to  give  you  an  upright,  distinct  answer  whether  I  had  coma 
for  the  Coavcr.tion  or  not,  I  should  almost  be  iu  some  diiiiculty,  because 

2  a 


854  Closing  Mceilwj  at  Exeter  Mall. 

I  always  wish  to  come  over  to  England  from  time  to  time,  and  if  tliis 
Convention  had  not  been  held  this  year  I  should  perhaps  have  found 
some  other  reason  for  coming  over.    (Laughter.)     At  all  events,  I  am 
very  much  pleased  to  be  able  to  attend  this  Convention.     It  is  now 
many  years  since  I  stood  on  this  platform,  where  in  former  j'cars  I  have 
heard  a  great  many  inspiriting  speeches,  and  where  sometimes  also  I 
ha^'e  been  allowed  to  say  a  few  words  myself.     I  am  very  much  pleased 
that  I  stand  here  on  an  occasion  of  so  much  importance  ;  for  wo  dele- 
gates from  the  Continent  all  feel  it  a  great  privilege  that  we  have  been 
able  to  look  into  the  faces  and  shake  the  hands  of  so  many  Christian 
workers  engaged  in  Sunday  scliool  work  in  England  and  fi-om  other 
countries.      (Hear,  hear.)      Pei-haps  some  of  you  remember  or  ha^■c 
heard  that,  in  Eerlin,  we  celebrated  the  twenty-fifth   anniversarj'  of 
Sunday  schools  last  autumn.   There  was  a  little  controversy  whether  it 
was  really  the  jubilee — I  mean  whether  the  Suudayschools  were  not  older 
than  twenty-five  years.     "We  have  not  quite  settled  that  coutroversj', 
because  there  have  been  Sunday  schools  much  further  back  ;  but  it  is 
only  twenty-five  years  since  that  wo  have  really  had  a  national  Sunday 
school,  which  has  been  spreading.     Now,  at  the  present  moment,  wo 
have  in  Berlin,  in  the  capital  of  the  German  Empu-e,  about  eighty-four 
Suudayschools.  (Hear,  hear.)    We  have  about  20,000  Sunday  scholars, 
and  about  1000  teachers.   The  number  of  teachers  is  not  quite  sufficient 
for  the  number  of  scholars.     (Hear,  hear.)     That  is  always  a  great 
difficulty,  and  we  hope  this  Convention  will  give  a  fi-esh  impulse  to  tho 
work.     "What  makes  the  work  in  Germany  so  very  interesting  at  the 
present  moment  is,  that  we  can  say  with  a  good  conscience  that  through 
the  help  of  God  we  are  at  present  on  the  ascending  line.     "We  hope 
it  is  so  everywhere,  through  God's  grace;  at  all  events  it  is  so  in 
Germany. 

I  know  the  dear  friends  in  England  and  the  United  States  are 
liir  ahead  of  us  in  many  things,  but  on  the  other  hand  you  have  had 
those  agencies  at  work  a  miich  longer  period.  I  thmk  the  Sunday 
school  has  a  great  part  in  the  religious  hfe  of  England,  and  I  feel 
convinced  that,  if  the  Sunday  scliool  has  been  a  help  to  us  in  twenty- 
five  years,  it  will  be  a  greater  help  later  on.  As  the  years  go  on,  it  will 
always  be  a  greater  help  in  the  development  of  true  spu-itual  life.  "We 
are  very  glad  at  the  present  moment  that  the  Sunday  school  finds  so 
much  support,  that  there  are  many  of  om'  clergymen — a  great  number 
— who  really  like  the  Siuiday  school,  and  consider  it  tlic  greatest  recre- 
ation after  very  hard  work. 

"We  are  also  deeply  grateful  that  most  of  the  German  State  Govern- 
ments now  support  the  Sunday  school.  We  have  had  at  Eisenbach 
for  two  years  a  meeting  of  the  German  Church  Governments,  and  they 
have  discussed  several  times  already,  especially  at  the  last  meetmg,  the 
question  of  Sunday  schools,  and  have  decided  to  advocate  them.  In 
Prussia  the  highest  Chiu'ch  authorities  have  recommended  the  Sunday 
Schools  on  yarioug  occasions.     It  is  always  a  great  lionoiu'  when  those 


Closinrj  Meclinrj  at  Exetn-  Hall.  355 

ju  authority  help  the  work.  I  kuow  it  does  not  depend  upon  them, 
but  still  it  is  a  help.  (Hear,  hear.)  A  few  days  ago,  at  this  great 
Convention,  you  resolved  to  address  letters  to  the  sovereigns  of  Eiu-opc 
to  do  something  more  towards  the  sauctificatiou  of  the  Lord's  Day. 
(Hear,  hoar.)  Let  me  give  you  one  pleasing  instance.  Up  to  last 
winter  all  the  races  m.  Berlin  wore  on  Sundays.  Om*  present  cmi)eror 
did  not  forbid  them  to  be  hold  on  Sundays,  but  he  just  expressed  a 
wish  that  they  should  not  be  on  Sundays  (cheers),  and  of  course  his 
wish  was  a  command  to  many  of  lis.  The  consequence  is  that  during 
last  winter  and  spring  all  the  races  have  been  on  week-days.  (Cheers.) 
This  is  what  we  consider  a  fortunate  beginning,  and  we  are  abo  parti- 
cidiu'ly  happy  that  our  young  empress  does  whatever  she  can  to  fm-ther 
all  Christian  work.     (Cheers.) 

I  was  reminded  of  that  a  few  days  ago  in  the  Convention  when  one 
of  the  friends  fi-om  America  said  that  he  had  gone  to  a  distant  part  of 
the  comitry  to  establish  Sunday  schools,  and  had  found  in  the  house  of 
a  clergyman  eight  children,  lie  said,  "  If  you  have  notliiug  else,  begin 
a  Sunday  school  in  your  own  family."  There  is  also  somethiufr  of  this 
kind  m  our  royal  palaoe.  The  empress  has  five  little  boys,  who  are 
taught  not  only  witli  all  the  simplicity  of  chddreu  in  private  life,  but 
it  is  also  the  great  wish  of  theu*  parents  to  train  them  m  a  rehgious 
manner.  (Cheers.)  I  thought  it  woidd  uitei-est  you  to  hear  these  facts 
(cheers),  and  tliat  is  why  I  have  told  them.  Otherwise  it  is,  of  com-se 
true  that  in  this  great  question  we  do  not  put  om*  hopes  in  princes,  nor 
in  any  other  human  authority,  but  om*  hope  i-ests  only  on  the  power 
from  above,  from  on  high,  which  God  has  graciously  vouchsafed  hitherto 
to  Sunday  school  work,  and  \\'hich  He  will  continue  to  bestow. 

There  are  perhaps  two  features  of  the  German  Simday  school  wliich 
make  it  a  httle  different  from  others.  One  feature  is  that  we  have  in 
Germany  a  great  deal  of  religious  instruction  in  our  pubhc  schools. 
Since  the  days  of  the  Keforniation  I  must  say  that  the  Chm-ch  and 
State  have  both  united  to  do  whatever  they  can  for  the  education  of 
the  cliildren.  We  have  had  compulsory  education  for  many  years,  and 
religious  instruction  is  part  of  this  education.  All  the  children  have 
at  least  fom*  lessons  in  religion  every  week.  Indeed,  the  consequence 
is  that  our  children  have  a  good  deal  of  rehgious  kno^vledge,  so  that 
the  Sunday  school  has  not  so  much  the  duty  of  increasing  this  know- 
ledge, but  the  duty  and  A\oi"k  of  the  Sunday  school  is  to  bring  the 
doctrines  home  to  the  hearts  of  the  childi-eu.  (Cheers.)  In  the  Sunday 
school  the  children  do  not  so  nuieh  acquu'c  knowledge  as  learn  to  love 
the  Lord  Jesus.  In  that  respect  I  tlmik  our  Sunday  schools  have  done 
and  are  doing  something  for  the  increase  of  spiritiuJ  life  in  Germanj-, 
and  for  the  creation  of  Christian  woi-kers.  Another  significant  feature 
of  our  Sunday  school  is  the  preparation  class.  (Heai-,  hear.)  I  think 
one  of  the  speakers  the  other  day  said  that  we  Germans  have  not  the 
right  imders';anding  yet  of  teachers'  helps.  Well,  it  may  be  that  we 
have  not  gone  sufficiently  on  tliat  Ime ;  it  may  be  that  we  have  not 

.-Aw 


35G  GlosiiKj  Meeting  at  Exeter  Hall. 

])iiblisliccl  so  many  boots,  commeutavies,  and  the  like  as  we  might  have 
done,  and  perhaps  ought  to  have  done,  dm-iug  these  twenty-five  years, 
but  ve  have  no  Sunday  school — at  least  hardly  a  Sunday  school — 
-without  a  prepai'ation  class  ;  and  I  think  these  preparation  classes  are 
more  valuable  than  any  written  help  can  be.  They  are  a  living,  practical 
help  given  to  all  those  who  are  teachers  m  the  Sunday  school.  And 
there  is  another  point  in  this  preparation  class  \;-hich  ought  not  to  be 
forgotten.  It  is  not  only  a  help  to  the  teaching  in  the  Sunday  school, 
but  also  gives  occasion  for  fellowship  in  Christian  work.  (Hear,  hear.) 
I  think  it  is  just  in  the  prepai-ation  class  that  the  superintendent 
learns  to  know  the  teachers  well,  and  that  they  learn  to  know  him  well, 
and  that  the  teachers  learn  to  know  each  other  well ;  and  that  is  the 
way,  through  the  preparation  class.  Christian  fello^^•s]lip  is  created.  I 
will  not  detain  you  longer.  I  am  deeply  gratefid  for  the  fact  that  your 
Sunday  School  Union  sent  a  delegate  to  oiu-  jubilee,  Mr.  Edwards. 
We  were  very  much  pleased  to  receive  him  at  the  time,  and  I  hope  if 
any  Simday  school  Convention  should  be  held  at  Berlin — I  believe  the 
next  one  is  to  be  held  in  Ajiierica — we  shall  do  our  best  to  give  you  a 
very  hearty  welcome.     (Cheers.) 

The  Eev.  John  McKillican  {Canada)  :  My  lord,  and  Clu-istian 
friends,  I  cannot  teU.  you  how  much  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  sjieak  in 
belialf  of  my  fi'iends  fi-om  Canada.  You  have  seen  a  very  lai-ge  niunber 
of  Americans  walking  your  streets,  and  they  have  tlie  word  America  on 
then-  bosoms — (laughter) — and  in  theu-  hearts.  We  also  are  from 
America,  and  perhaps  you  may  wonder  why  we  have  Canada  on  the 
coat  and  in  the  lieart.  We  are  Americans  all  the  same,  but  we  live 
lUider  the  British  flag — (cheers) — and,  although  I  am  not  to  in- 
struct you  to-night  in  the  geography  of  Canada,  I  have  yet  to  tell  you 
the  Doniurion  of  Canada  is  large.  (Laughter.)  If  you  wiLL  come  and 
see  lis  we  will  undertake  to  pilot  you  safely  over  3000  miles  in  one 
direction,  and  we  will  give  you  an  introduction  to  thousands  of  very 
warm  British  hearts  whose  children  have  gi-own  up  iu  the  backwoods, 
children  and  children's  children,  who  tell  of  the  old  tunes  in  Britain, 
and  who  left  their  country,  very  few  of  them  for  tlieh-  country's  good, 
and  a  very  large  number  of  tliem  for  om*  good.  Om"  great  object  and 
main  work  for  nearly  thirty  years  has  been  among  that  class  of  people, 
and  I  esteem  it  now  a  privilege  to  have  been  that  length  of  time  in  the 
work  ;  and,  A^ere  I  young  again,  my  lord,  I  should  be  thankful  for  the 
privilege  of  entering  upon  the  same  work.     (Cheers.) 

I  is  not  merely  the  privilege  of  going  to  the  homes  of  the  British 
emigrants  on  whose  behalf  prayers  still  ascend  in  British  homes,  to 
which  still  come  letters  warm  with  Christian  life  and  love,  wai-ning  the 
children  agamst  the  errors  to  which  they  are  exposed  in  the  new 
coimtry,  warning  them  to  avoid  Sabbatli  breaking,  and  intemperance 
and  various  forms  of  evil  that  too  frequently  sm-round  a  people  far 
removed  froui  Sabbath  day  privileges,  and  the  blessed  influence  of  the 
parly  British  home.      Our  American  friends  have,  for  a  very  largo 


Clos'tiiij  Mrclhuj  (tt  Exrhr  lldH.  357 

numbei-  of  yc;ir:<,  l)oc'ii  iloing  very  yood  work,  and  I  want  to  toll  you  a 
secret.  Before  we  jiad  ii  Canadian  Sunday  School  Union  (fifty-three 
years  ago),  our  Anieriean  friends  sent  over  from  New  England  a  goodly 
)iuniber  of  noble,  true  men,  who  represented  us  in  the  founding  of  this 
great  society,  which  has  been  an  auxiliary  to  yours,  and  to  which  you 
have  contributed  so  very  much.  (Cheers.)  I  could  speak  no  kinder 
words  to  your  hearts  than  tell  you  how  many  homes  there  are  in  which 
I  have  been  where  it  has  been  said  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  books 
sent  from  Paternoster  Row,  from  the  London  Religious  Tract  Societv, 
many  a  Sabbath  would  not  have  been  a  Sabbath  ;  where  no  i)reachiiig 
was  heard  and  no  preacher  seen  but  once  in  a  long  while.  These 
excellent  books  were  sent  to  us  at  half-price  in  my  boyish  days,  and  I 
read  them  when  I  had  nothing  else  to  read.  These  books  blessed 
many  a  home,  and  are  remembered  to  this  day  as  a  blessing  to  our 
land.     (Cheers.) 

When  we  entered  a  penitentiary  some  time  ago  we  saw  320  out  of 
700  prisoners  ;  171  of  that  320  could  neither  repeat  the  Lox'd's  Prayer, 
the  Ten  Commandments,  nor  tiie  Apostles'  Creed.  What  does  tliat 
tell  us  of  the  neglect  of  children  ?  Just  think  of  it.  And  200  of 
that  320  admitted  that  they  never  went  to  the  Sabbath  school  except 
when  they  went  there  for  some  amusement  ;  200  admitted  that  they 
never  learned  to  obey  father  or  mother  or  to  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  Day. 
One  poor  man  said,  "  I  would  give  all  the  world  were  it  mine  now  to 
be  a  boy  again  and  go  to  the  Sabbath  school  as  you  did.  I  roamed 
about  on  the  Lord's  Day."  I  speak  these  facts,  my  lord,  in  order  tiiat 
you  may  luiderstand  the  unspeakable  necessity  there  is  now  in  the  new 
world  for  tlie  grand  work  with  wliich  you  have  so  much  .sympathized 
with  us,  and  in  which  we  have  so  much  rejoiced  with  you.  During 
the  sessions  of  this  Convention,  we  have  seen  placed  in  the  hands  of 
our  excellent  chairman  a  large  number  of  noble,  beautiful  resolutions. 
I  could  not  help  thhiking  of  another  resolution  in  the  grand  old  Book 
— the  Book  whicli  we  still  read  in  the  common  schools  as  well  as  in  the 
Sabbath  schools  of  Canada.  "  We  will  not  hide  theni  from  their 
cliildren  sliowing  to  tlie  generation  to  come  the  praises  of  the  Lord  and 
His  strength  and  His  wonderful  works  that  He  hath  done."  Why? 
"  That  they  might  set  their  hope  in  God,  and  not  forget  the  works  of 
God,  but  keep  His  commandments."  And  what  is  the  other  reason  ? 
That  they  will  not  be  as  who  ?  Those  who  became  rebels,  who  forgot 
His  works  and  His  wonders,  and  who  refused  to  walk  in  His  law. 
These,  my  lord,  are  good  reasons  why  we  Canadians  have  tried  to 
overtake  the  needs  of  the  backwoodsmen.  And  I  am  glad  to  stand 
here  to-night  as  one  who  hixs  seen  2000  Sunday  schools  grow  up  and 
come  into  operation.  That  work  is  going  on  over  a  wide  extent  of 
country.  I  myself  am  intimately  acquainted  with  1400  miles  of  our 
country  from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  district  between  Parry  Sound  and 
Lake  Rousseau.  In  one  county,  wliere  there  were  not  two  churches, 
twelve  churches  have  gro\vn  out  of  the  Sabbath  school.     (Cheers.)     In 


358  ChmiKj  McvliiKj  at  3xetrr  Mall. 

another  settlement  a  man  said,  "  Yoit  cannot  organize  a  Sunday  school 
here."  "Why  not?"  "Yon  cannot  do  it,"  was  tlie  reply.  "But 
there  mnst  be  reasons  for  it,  if  true."  I  insisted  on  an  answer.  At 
last  he  said,  "  Because  the  books  from  the  old  country  and  New  York 
liave  so  saturated  parents  and  children  that  you  cannot  oi-ganize  a 
school  here."  "  Well,"  I  said,  "  will  you  visit  eveiy  home  with  me  ?  " 
"  Oh,  yes,  I  will."  A  Sabbath  school  was  organized  there,  and  within 
one  year  sixty-five  people  ignited  with  the  church  that  grew  out  of  it. 
(Hear,  hear.)  In  another  place  in  the  north,  120  miles  above  Montreal, 
up  one  of  the  rivers,  there  was  a  humble,  good  Christian  woman  from 
the  backwoods  of  Ohio.  She  said  to  me,  "  We  want  a  good  library.  I 
want  every  book  to  point  to  Jesus.  Let  it  be  obituary,  history,  travels, 
Scriptm-e,  or  anything  else,  I  want  it  all  to  point  up  to  Jesus."  I  select 
eveiy  book — I  always  select  every  book  for  a  Sabbath  school  library.  I 
cannot  trust  libraries  that  are  made  up  unless  they  are  made  up  in 
Paternoster  Row  or  the  Old  Bailey.  We  bear  a  vast  deal  said  about 
complaints,  but  I  never  heard  a  complaint  about  the  Old  Bailey  or 
Tract  Society's  libraiy.  Never  in  twenty-nine  years  have  I  had  to  send 
one  book  back,  nor  have  I  had  a  single  complaint. 

The  parents  m  Canada  clesh-e  their  children  to  grow  up  men  and  women 
like  stones  polislied  in  the  simihtude  of  a  palace.  Wlien  I  went  to  see 
this  woman  engaged  in  the  good  work,  I  declare  I  did  not  know  where 
I  was  going  to  sleep  that  night.  A  man  said,  "  You  can't  go  in  tliere  ; 
you  will  only  find  nine  children."  I  found  the  house  crammed  full.  In 
less  than  a  year  thirty-two  yomig  people  gave  then*  hearts  to  God,  and 
luiited  with  the  church  of  Christ.  A  young  man  said,  "Come  back  and 
see  our  settlement.  You  would  not  know  it.  We  have  not  a  man 
there  that  will  drink  a  drop  of  liquor.  (Loud  cheers.)  We  have  not  a 
young  man  who  would  put  a  paddle  of  his  canoe  on  his  shoulder,  or  go 
on  the  water,  or  take  liis  gun,  or  anything  else,  on  the  Lord's  Day." 
(Cheers.)  This  is  the  work  in  which  our  society  is  engaged,  and  wc 
feel  thankfiU  in  knowing  that  tlu'ough  so  long  a  period  we  have  been 
sustained  and  supported  and  cheered  in  our  work  by  the  prayers  that 
have  come  from  Clmstian  homes  in  Britain  whose  relatives  have  come 
to  Canada.  My  lord,  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness. 
We  feel  exceedingly  refreshed  by  your  company  and  by  the  tokens  of 
your  symijathy  with  us,  and  yom*  kindness  to  xis  m  the  great  work  in 
which  we  are  engaged.  In  Westminster  you  are  discussing  Home 
Rule ;  we  are  doing  something  practical  in  that  line  in  every  Sabbath 
school  in  Canada,  and  we  are  going  to  have  Home  Rule  of  the  right 
kmd.  (Cheers.)  AVliile  we  do  not  wish  to  rob  you  of  a  population 
you  desii'e  to  possess,  we  will  not  be  sorry  to  see  a  vastly  larger  number 
come  over,  and  we  will  try  and  welcome  them  to  a  land  where  the 
Sabbath  will  be  more  and  more  honoured,  and  where  blessed  influences 
will  be  brought  to  bear  upon  parents  and  children.     (Cheers.) 

A  Gentleman  in  the  body  of  the  hall  said  he  had  received  a  letter 
from  the  secretary  of  a  Sunday  school  in  Ontario,  asking  him  to  get 


Closliiij  jlJccliiuj  Hi  Exdcf  Jldll.  359 

all  the  lire  lie  cuiikl  from  tlio  Lomlon  CouvciiLiou  and  bring  it  to  bear 
on  Sunday  school  work  at  home. 

The   Rev.  Dr.  John    Hall   {New  York),  who  was   received  with 
clieers,  said :  My  lord  and  Christian  friends,  I  feel  at  this  moment  ns 
if  I  had  some  claim  upon  the  sympathy  of  this  meeting.     I  hare  been 
speating  so  mucli  from  day  to  day  that  at  length  I  had  become  a  little 
ashamed  of  myself  (laughter),  and  I  took  a  quiet  scat  down  there  in 
the  hope  that  I  might  have  the  satisfaction  of  Hstcning  to  the  addresses 
to  be  made  this  evening  witliout  the  responsibility  of  having  to  speak 
myself.     I  had  beckoning  signs  and  I   disregarded  them  ;   I  had  the 
name  called  out  and  I  kept  both  ears  closed  (laughter)  ;  but  a  gentle- 
man whom  we  have  all  been  accustomed  to  obey  for  these  four  days 
past  walked  down  and  took  me  by  the  arm,  and   1   did  not  like  to 
resort  to  physical  resistance,  so  I  am  here.     (Laughter.)    It  is  always  a 
pleasure  to  me  to  speak  to  Sunday  school  labourers,  for  this  reason, 
that  they  from  their  experience  have  acquu-ed  a  certain  sympathy  with 
us  ministers  that  others  cannot  have.     (Hear,  hear.)     They  apprehend 
tlii'ough  their  experience  our  difBculties.     They  have  found  out  that  it 
is  not  by  might  nor  by  power,  but  by  the  Spirit  of  the    Lord,  that 
their  and  our  work  is  really  to  be  done.     (Hear,  hear.)     In  the  many 
opportmiities   that  have   been   kindly   given  to  me  to  speak  in  this 
connection,   I   have   sometimes    ventured   to   warn    Cliristiau   people 
against  allowing  the  Sunday  school  to  become  a  substitute  for  the 
church  ;  also  to  warn  against  the  idea  that   Sunday  school   teachers 
should  become  a  substitute  for  the  parents.     (Hear,  hear.)     They  are 
the  voluntary  rmpaid  assistants  of  Christian  parents  m  trying  to  guide 
the  children's  feet  mto  the  way  of  peace.     There  is  one  other  word  of 
caution   that   perhaps   it   may   be   proper   to   utter.     Sunday  school 
teachers  have  to  take  care  that  they  do  not  substitute  their  intellectual 
preparation   of  the   work    of  teaching   for   their   own   personal   and 
devotional  study  of  the  Word  of  God.     (Cheers.)     It  is  one  thing  to 
cook  food  for  the  family,  it  is  another  thing  to  get  nutritious  food  in 
siifBcient  quantity  to  sustam  the  physical  system  of  the  cook  (laugh- 
ter).    So  it  is  here  ;  if  you  want  to  be  kept  effective  teachers  you 
must  feed  upon  the  sincere  mUk  of  the  Word,  and  grow  thereby,  and 
then  you  will  be  prepared  for  the  intellectual  effort  that  is  needed  in 
giving  out  the  A\'ord.     (Cheers.) 

One  thing  more  I  woidd  yenture  to  say.  Oirr  pastors  all  over  the 
lands  here  and  elsewhere  have  a  great  responsibility  in  the  matter  of 
trainmg  Sunday  school  workers,  teachmg  them  that  they  may  be 
teachers  ;  imparting  to  them  distinct,  definite,  tangible  opinions  about 
the  truths  of  God's  Word,  so  that  they  ui  theii-  tm-n  may  be  in- 
telligent and  capable  instructors.  There  is  a  certaui  tendency  in  our 
time— we  feel  it  certainly  upon  the  other  side  of  the  ocean— to  make 
little  of  the  distmctive  principles  of  God's  Word,  and  to  make  a  great 
deal  of  general  religious  devout  sentiment  that  disregards  doctrme,  and 
that   makes   itself  the  simi  total  of  religious  hfe.     I  go  for  religions 


360  Closing  Mccflng  at  Exeter  Sail. 

sentiment;  but  religious  sentiment  is  to  be  based  upon  intelligent 
religious  conviction  (cheers),  and  that  intelligent  religious  conviction  is 
to  be  had  by  the  intelligent  stiidy  and  acceptance  of  the  infallible 
Woi'd  of  the  living  Grod.  (Cheers.)  But  there  is  no  necessity  for  me 
to  dwell  on  these  matters  at  this  tune.  It  is  not  that  I  may  tell  you 
tliese  things  that  I  have  been  put  in  tliis  place.  It  is  for  an  entirely 
different  matter.  The  most  eloquent  piece,  I  thint,  in  oui*  English 
tongue,  is  the  concluding  part  of  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the  first 
Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  and  the  beginning  of  the  next  chapter  is, 
"Now  concerning  the  collection"  (laughter).  It  has  been  for  many 
years  part  of  my  duty  apparently  to  wrest  money  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses. I  have  to  ask  the  congregation  that  I  serve  for  a  sum  of 
between  £40,000  and  £50,000  a  year,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  they  have 
given  it  cheerfully  (cheers),  and  I  do  not  know  that  any  of  them  are 
pooi-er  than  they  woidd  otherwise  have  been  for  their  giving.  (Hear, 
hear.)  I  have  to  do  a  great  deal  in  that  line ;  so  much  so,  that  I 
was  tempted  playfully  to  say  in  New  York  the  other  night  that  I 
thought  I  had  better  go  to  Wall  Street — you  know  what  Wall  Street 
means — and  be  raising  money  all  the  time.  (Laughter.)  Well,  some 
business  man  present  said,  "  No,  you  had  better  stay  where  you  are. 
You  will  do  very  weU  in  the  pidpit ;  you  would  be  a  conspicuous 
failm-e  in  Wall  Street."  (Laughter.)  My  lord,  you  kindly  said  to  me, 
with  the  courtesy  that  always  marks  your  ways,  "If  you  come  to  my 
country,  kindly  look  in  on  me  and  we  will  be  glad  to  see  you."  I  was 
very  much  touched  by  the  kindly  coiutesy. 

It  recalled  to  mind  a  story  which  I  did  not  make  (laughter) — I  heard 
it  from  a  doctor ;  he  was  not  a  doctor  of  divinity,  but  a  doctor  of 
medicine.  Accordmg  to  this  story,  an  admu-able  minister  from  the 
city  of  Edinburgh  was  entrusted  with  the  work  of  raising  money  for  a 
benevolent  scheme,  and  he  had  set  oiit  for  tliis  purpose  with  his 
collecting  book.  In  one  of  the  country  towns  he  met  a  nobleman 
whom  he  had  a  wish  to  know,  and  who  was  \evj  pleased  to  see  him  ; 
and  after  a  little  conversation  the  nobleman  said :  "  I  wish  I  coidd 
have  asked  you  to  stay  at  the  castle,  but  I  am  sorry  I  cannot.  The 
fact  is,  just  at  this  season  of  the  year  eveiy  room  in  the  castle  is 
occupied  except  one  indeed  into  which  we  can  never  put  any  guests 
becavise  it  has  the  reputation,  like  some  old  medieval  castles,  of  being 
haunted."  (Laughter.)  "Never  mind,"  said  the  minister,  "I  wiU 
take  that  room  with  pleasiu-e ;  "  and  he  went.  Of  coui'se,  the  thing  at 
dinner  got  whispered  about  that  this  good  minister  was  to  go  to  the 
haunted  room.  The  next  niorning,  when  he  appeared,  there  was  a  very 
natural  cm'iosity  to  know  how  things  had  gone,  and  at  the  breakfast 
table  somebody  du-ectly  put  the  question,  "WeU,  how  did  you  get  on 
in  that  room  last  night ?  "  "WeU,"  he  said,  "I  went  to  bed  as  you 
saw  at  the  iisual  time.  There  was  a  nice  httle  table  with  some  books 
on  it  close  to  the  bed,  and  I  took  some  books  I  had  and  put  them  on 
the  table,  and  occupied  myself  with  reading  a  little  whUe,  and  then  I 


ClusiiKj  Mallinj  at  E.cclcr  Hall  361 

went  (o  boil.  Abuiit  miiliiight  there  was  a  motion  mid  the  door 
opened  and  ill  walked  tlie  gliuat"  (laufjlitei-j.  And  they  all  gazed  to 
see  what  would  follow.  "  And  what  did  you  do  ?  "  "  Why,"  he  said, 
*'  I  took  up  my  colleeting  book,  and  I  handed  it  to  the  ghost"  (loud 
hiughter),  and  the  minister  added,  "The  ghost  disappeared,  and  I 
slept  ijuietly  till  the  morning."  Is'ow,  dear  friends,  you  are  not  ghosts. 
You  are  very  interestuig  men  and  women,  but  1  am  going  to  put  a 
collecting  book  before  you  now.  AVhat  for?  I  will  tell  you  that  in  a 
few  words.  It  has  been  unanimously  and  lieartiiy  agreed  to  by  (hia 
Convention  that  India  has  special  claims  upou  us  English-speaking 
people.  (Cheers.)  Tlie  workers  in  India  are  widely  scattered ;  they  have 
many  dilliculties.  It  is  hard  for  them  to  come  togetliei-.  Their  people 
have  special  temptations  in  their  way.  Converts  recently  brought 
fi'om  heathenism  are  subjected  to  fearful  trials  and  calamities  sucli  aa 
plagues  and  pestilences,  and  it  is  hard  for  them  to  keep  true  to  the 
truth  that  they  have  received.  They  would  be  aided  immensely  in 
liolding  the  truth,  in  spreading  the  truth,  by  organized  Sunday  school 
work,  such  as  has  blessed  Australasia,  blessed  Canada,  blessed  the 
United  States,  blessed  these  British  Isles.  It  has  been  decided  to  give 
as  a  gift  of  brotherly  love  to  India  a  capable  Sabbath  school  organizer. 
I  wish  we  could  get  Mr.  Jacobs.  (Cheers.)  We  would  give  him  a 
imanimous  call  to-night,  I  am  sure ;  but  there  would  be  this  incon- 
venience about  it.  Yon  here  in  the  British  islands  would  have  an 
abiding  strife,  not  only  with  Illinois,  but  with  a  large  portion  of  the 
North  West,  for  they  could  not,  I  am  afraid,  make  up  their  mind  to 
lose  the  services,  to  lose  the  charm,  the  versatility,  and  power  of  my 
brother,  Mr.  Jacobs.  (Cheers.)  But  the  best  man  that  can  be  had 
will  be  sought  out,  sought  out  wisely  and  prayerfidly.  Now,  dear 
friends,  what  you  are  asked  to  do  is  to  make  your  contribution  lu'i-e 
to-night  for  the  purpose  of  sustainmg  such  a  capable  missionary 
worker  and  organizer  among  your  fellow  subjects,  our  fellow  Cliristians 
our  fellow  creatures  in  the  empire  of  India.     (Cheers.) 

A  collection  was  then  made. 

The  Peesident  :  Before  I  call  upon  the  next  speaker,  whom  we 
welcome  most  heartUy  here,  I  bchcve  he  has  not  been  very  long  in 
London,  but  wc  hope  he  will  long  stay  and  often  speak  on  this  plat- 
form—the Rev.  Pedr  Williams— may  I  say  that  the  Sunday  School 
Union  Finance  Secretary,  Mr.  Ti-esiddcr,  will  be  happy  to  receive  any 
subscriptions  for  this  work  in  India  at  56,  Old  Bailey.  We  ought  to  be 
able  to  raise,  this  week,  the  first  year's  salary  for  the  missionai^,  £250. 

Rev.  Pedii  Williams  (London)  :  My  lord,  my  dear  friends,  I  feel  I 
ought  to  make  an  apology  for  havhig  the  audacity  to  speak  in  a 
meetuig  like  this  ;  but  I  will  not  make  an  apology.  (A  voice  :  "  Speak 
up.")  Just  wait  a  minute.  (Laughter.)  Fii-st.  I  will  not  make  an 
apology,  for  the  double  reason  that  I  have  no  apology  to  make,  and  it 
would  waste  yoiu-  time.  It  is  said  that  a  young  man  boasted  to 
Socrates  that  he  had  a  large  and  fine  estate.     !;ocratcs  asked  him  to 


3G2  CloiSiiKj  3tc(:tin<j  at  Exeter  Hall. 

bring  liim  a  map  of  the  world.  The  map  was  brought.  "Where  is 
Gi'eece?"  said  Socrates.  The  yomig  man  covered  Greece  with  liis 
finger.  "  "VVliere  is  Athens  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Here,"  said  he,  pointing  to 
a  speck  on  the  map.  "  WHiei-e  is  your  estate  ?  "  "  It  is  not  marked  in 
a  map  of  the  world."  "  Then,"  said  Socrates,  "  do  not  boast  of  that 
which  is  nothing  when  compared  with  the  whole  ■^^•orld."  Well,  mj 
lord,  this  Convention  has  given  us  a  map  of  the  whole  world.  We  live 
too  much  ill  naiTOw  circles  and  contracted  spaces.  We  want  larger 
outlooks  and  wider  visions ;  and  tliis  Convention  has  enabled  us  to 
cast  oiu"  eye  over  the  whole  field ;  and  from  this  Convention  delegates 
will  retm*n  to  the  work  that  awaits  them,  refreshed  in  hope,  enlarged 
in  sympathy,  and  enriched  in  information.  (Hear,  hear.)  Now,  my 
lord,  I  rejoice  in  Sabbath  school  work,  because  the  Sabbath  school 
is  the  greatest  instrument  of  evangelization  the  world  has  ever  seen. 
(Hear,  hear.)  The  real  aim  of  Sabbath  school  work  is  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  the  children. 

In  the  degree  that  the  Sabbath  school  goes  beyond  the  Eible  until  it 
reaches  Christ,  in  that  degree  it  fulfils  its  high  mandate,  and  dis- 
charges its  high  piu'pose.  Then,  agam,  I  rejoice  in  it,  because  it  has 
fm'uished  such  glorious  scope  for  the  spirit  and  service  of  women. 
Napoleon  said,  "  Give  me  the  mothers  of  France,  and  in  a  few  years 
I  will  win  Trance  itself."  In  Manchester,  not  long  ago,  a  lady  was 
addressing  an  audience  on  the  rights  of  woman.  She  said,  "  Where 
woidd  man  be  without  woman  ?"  (Laughter.)  "  Where  would  man 
be  without  woman  ?  "  aud  a  Lancashire  lad  in  the  audience  cried, 
"  In  Paradise,  mum."  (Laughter.)  I  do  not  know — I  wUl  not  ven- 
tiu'e  an  opinion — whether  that  is  so  or  not,  as  I  see  that  there  are 
ladies  here,  but  I  venture  to  say  that  we  shall  never  turn  the  social 
pandemonium  of  the  nations  we  represent  into  a  great  and  beautiful 
paradise  without  the  help  of  women.  (Cheers.)  And  we  rejoice, 
therefore,  that  the  Sabbath  school  furnishes  such  glorious  scope  for  the 
spu-it  and  service  of  noble  womanhood.  We  rejoice  in  it  also  because 
it  is  such  a  magnificent  discipline  for  teachers,  as  well  as  for  scholars. 
Perhaps  this  aspect  is  too  frequently  forgotten — the  patience,  the 
courage,  the  faith,  that  are  needed  to  cope  with  the  stupidity,  the 
ignorance,  and  the  obstinacy  that  will  come  up  even  in  childhood.  It 
is  a  most  magnificent  school  of  discipline  the  church  of  Clu'ist  has  ever 
witnessed. 

I  believe  that  in  this  meeting  there  are  those  who  are  not  teachers 
in  Sabbath  schools  and  I  dare  not  forget  them,  my  lord.  There 
are  some  who  are  not  teachers  because  it  is  above  them ;  some  be- 
cause it  is  beneath  them.  To  those  who  are  not  teachers  because  it 
is  beyond  them,  I  would  say,  There  is  a  task  for  every  man,  and  a 
man  for  eveiy  task.  When  Sir  Chi'istopher  Wren,  the  architect  of 
St.  Paul's,  on  one  occasion  stood  admiiing  the  noble  pile  his  bram  had 
planned,  an  lU'chin  came  up  and  said,  "  Did  we  not  build  a  fine 
building,   sir  ?  "     "  We !    who    are   we  ?  "     "  Well,"    said  the  m-chin, 


Clusiiiij  Mcclinij  at  E.rdrr  lldll.  oG3 

"  I  Ciu-riud  up  sonic  oC  (liu  ii\ort:ir."  11  is  true  tliu  hid  could  not  lin\o 
luado  the  pliin,  but  I  am  certain  Sir  Christopher  Wren  would  not  linvc 
carried  up  the  mortar.  There  is  a  task  for  every  man,  and  a  man  for 
every  task.  (Cheers.)  Of  tliose  who  will  not  participate  because  it  is 
beneath  them  I  Mould  say,  Tlic  task  of  training  childhood  is  one  of  the 
noblest  tasks  under  heaven.  There  is  none  nobler  than  the  task  which 
would  look  into  the  future  and  try  to  serve  generations  yet  to  be. 
Four  hundred  years  ago,  there  wa.9  a  schoolmaster  in  Germany  mIio 
every  morning,  as  he  entered  the  school,  took  off  liis  hat,  and  bowed  in 
reverence  before  his  scholars.  They  asked  liim  why.  He  said, 
"  Because  there  may  be  some  leader,  some  hero,  some  gi-eat  conductor 
of  great  affivu-s,  in  the  children  before  me,"  and  so  he  bo«ed.  The 
teacher's  instinct  was  unerring,  for  there  was  a  lad  in  the  school  wliose 
name  was  Martin  Luther — (cheers) — who,  in  forty  years  Mas  enwa^ed 
in  the  task  of  teaching  childhood,  and  of  serving  the  generations  that 
ai-e  to  be.     (Clieers.) 

[Mr.  B.  F.  Jacobs  entered  the  room  at  this  stage  and  was  received 
with  loud  applause.] 

Tlie  Rev.  Pedr  Williams,  continuing,  said :  One  hundred  years  ago, 
M-hen  the  Sunday  school  M'as  established,  the  religious  croakers  were  in 
full  force,  and  they  predicted  that  the  institution  M'ould  soon  prove  a 
miserable  and  disastrous  failure.  Tlie  years  have  passed  and  this  Con- 
vention is  the  ansM-er  to  the  prediction.  (Cheers.)  But  the  croaker  is 
not  dead.  Who  are  the  men  M'bo  have  a  right  to  criticize  our  Sabbath 
school  work  ?  No  man  has  a  right  to  criticize  unless  he  has  the  willing- 
ness to  participate.  It  is  easy  enough,  as  Sydney  Smith  said,  to  play  the 
good  Samaritan  M-ithout  the  oil  and  the  twopence.  (Laughter.)  There 
was  an  Irish  servant  M-ho  once  ausM'ered  the  door  when  somebody 
rang  the  bell,  and  found  two  ladies  who  would  see  her  mistress.  She 
told  her  mistress.  "  I  don't  want  to  see  them,"  said  she  ;  "tell  them  I 
am  asleep."  She  retm-ned  and  said,  '=  Mistress  jjresents  her  compli- 
ments, she  is  very  son-y,  but  she  is  fast  asleep."  (Laughter.)  There  are 
men  to-day  muo  are  very  fond  of  playing  the  high  censor  in  regard  to 
religious  M-ork — but  ask  them  to  come  fi'om  those  heights  mto  the  arena 
of  struggle,  and  they  are  always  fast  asleep.  (Cheers.)  Only  they 
have  the  right  to  criticize  Mho  have  the  MiUingness  to  participate. 
(Hear,  hear.)  We  need  to-day,  depend  upon  it,  despite  of  the  enthu- 
siasm that  this  Convention  represents,  and  embodies,  a  still  lai-ger,  still 
brighter,  still  more  heroic  spirit  of  activity.  There 'are  in  our  churches 
stiU  people  M-ho  are  movers,  not  M-orkers.  There  are  people  in  our 
churches  mIio  are  always  starting,  thinking,  planning,  but  they  have 
not  gone  yet.  (Hear,  hear.)  It  is  necessary  to  remind  such  people  of 
a  remark  of  Jolui  Buskin's,  that  pei'spu'ation  is  not  inspiration. 
(Laughter.)  But  it  is  sadder  still  to  see  people  indifferent  in  the  pre- 
sence of  a  great  and  sublime  work  like  this.  In  a  celebrated  epigram 
Macbiavelli  has  described  a  man  who  is  not  guilty  of  doing  anything 
grievously  wrong,  and  is  innocent  of  doing  anytking  very  good.     There 


304  Closiiuj  Mectiiuj  at  Exeter  Hull. 

arc  those  ^^■llo  suffer  from  an  affection  ■which  always  begins  on  SaturcUiy 
eveumg  and  invariably  leaves  early  on  Monday  morning.  (Laughter.) 
These  are  the  monks  of  our  churches  ;  they  will  never  look  at  the  fixed 
stars,  but  they  "will  come  out  in  crowds  to  sec  a  comet,  aiid  -when  it  is 
passed  they  lapse  into  serious  monkish  meditation.  In  that  condition 
tlicy  harm  nobody  but  themselves,  and  they  benefit  nobody  but  tlie 
makers  of  couches  and  easy-chairs.  If  I  were  to  suggest  a  motto  for  the 
life  of  such  people,  I  would  say,  "  Bad  for  truth,  good  for  ti-ade."  Eut, 
sh',  in  the  presence  of  a  work  hke  that  which  Sabbath  schools  represents 
it  is  time  we  got  rid  of  the  spu'it  that  is  always  singing  that  verse  of 
Cowper's — 

"  Far  from  the  world,  0  Lord,  I  flee, 
From  strife  and  tumult  far, 
From  scenes  where  Satan  wages  still 
His  most  successful  war." 

Why,  my  lord,  the  place  where  Satan  "  wages  stdl  his  most  successful 
war  "  is  just  the  place  fi-om  which  no  Clmstian  has  a  right  to  be  absent. 
(Cheers.)  It  is  there  his  faith  is  vi-anted ;  it  is  there  his  sympathy  wiU 
be  quickened ;  it  is  there  hia  activity  will  be  widened,  and  it  is  there 
that  he  can  wi-ite  upon  hia  manhood  the  ineradicable  glory  of  duty 
attempted,  duty  done.  Such  people  have  an  entu-ely  false  conception 
of  what  the  chiu-ch  of  God  is.  "What  is  it?  They  are  always  talking 
aboiit  being  settled  in  life,  forgettmg  that  a  man  is  never  settled  vmtd 
lie  ches.  (Laughter.)  What  is  the  chtu-ch  ?  It  is  not  a  dormitory;  it 
is  not  a  club  for  social  chat ;  it  is  not  a  debating  society  for  the  discus- 
sion of  the  faults  of  secretaries,  deacons,  and  chm-chwardens  ;  it  is  not  a 
theological  institution  with  a  progi-amme  packed  with  instructions 
to  the  minister  as  to  what  he  shall  preach ;  it  is  not  a  park  for 
loungers  and  loitei-ers  ;  it  is  not  a  nm*sery  where  all  the  playthmgs  are 
prejudices  and  all  the  children  angry.  What  is  the  chm-ch?  It  is  the 
raarshallmg  of  the  forces  of  the  Chiistian  hfe  and  the  hurUng  of  them 
in  all  then-  serried  glory,  Hke  the  lifeguard  phalanx  in  Waterloo,  against 
the  hypocrisies  and  corruptiona  of  the  world  spu-it.  That  is  the 
conception  you  want.  In  the  degree  in  which  we  rise  to  this  conception 
of  the  chiu-ch  we  shall  make  the  Sabbath  school  the  most  glorious 
instrument  for  propagating  Chi-istiau  truth  that  was  ever  submitted  to 
the  world.  I  shoidd  like  to  say  that  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the 
quality  that  most  of  all  makes  a  teacher's  work  triumphant  is  the 
quahty  of  sympathy.  Next  to  loyalty  to  Jesus  Clu-ist  we  want 
sympathy  with  human  life.  (Cheers.)  Sympathy  is  based  on  goodness  ; 
the  pm-est  man  is  the  man  best  fitted  to  teach,  and  best  fitted  to 
sympathise.  As  a  man  grows  in  goodness  he  grows  in  uifluence.  If 
you  try  to  influence  cliildhood  without  personal  goodness,  you  will  fail 
disastrously.  Why,  the  eloquence  of  a  true,  kind,  Christianhke  Hfe  is 
mightier  than  the  eloquence  of  any  speech,  even  though  it  be  the  speech 
of  a  Henry  Clay,  or  of  a  Daniel  Webster,  or  of  a  WilHam  Ewart  Glad- 


CluHLWj  MceluKj  at  E.ietcr  Hall.  3G5 

stone.  (Cheei-s.)  It  is  becoming  increasingly  felt  that  the  secularism 
Ave  meet  to-daj',  especially  amongst  young  men  and  yomig  women,  is 
due  fai-  more  to  the  inconsistencies  of  Christians  and  the  unsympatheliu 
attitude  of  the  churches  in  the  presence  of  social  problems  than  all  the 
intellectuiil  conclusions  about  Christianit3'  put  together.  (Cheers.)  ^Ve 
ueod  life  more  than  theorj'. 

There  was  a  man  who  wrote  a  book,  "  Kow  to  live  a  hundred  years," 
and  lie  died  at  the  age  of  forty.  (Laughter.)  There  was  a  lady  wlio 
conversed  with  her  minister  near  a  vindow,  and  she  said,  "Yes,  I  agree 
with  you.  The  best  plan  with  children  is  to  treat  them  gently. 
Harsh  words  are  no  good.  It  is  very  much  better  to  be  patient, 
tender  and  graceful  in  addressing  children."  Just  then  she  saw  her 
boy  playing  in  the  mud,  and  in  a  tempest  of  fury  she  raised  the 
window,  and  said,  "  John,  unless  you  come  out  of  that  puddle,  I  will 
break  your  back  and  smash  your  head."     (Laughter.) 

"Will  you  take  the  hint  ?  (Cheers.)  The  teacher  has  to  teach  of 
his  spirit,  of  his  self-control,  of  his  confession,  and  of  the  imequalled 
majesty  of  a  strong,  sturdy  and  tender  character.  Do  you  know 
that  sympathy  is  invincible  ?  There  is  only  one  occasion  so  far  as 
I  remember,  in  the  historj'  of  om-  Lord,  when  the  Jews  adcnowledge 
that  He  loved  man.  What  was  the  occasion  ?  "Was  it  after  one  of  those 
luii-acles  in  which  the  God  shone  in  the  man  ?  It  was  not.  Was  it 
after  one  of  those  discourses  in  wliich  heaven  seemed  to  be  opened,  and 
he  seemed  to  give  to  man  of  the  etei-nal  truth  itself?  It  was  not.  When 
was  it  that  the  Evangehst  had  to  write,  "Then  said  the  Jews,  'Behold 
how  He  loved  Him.'  "  It  was  after  He  had  \vi-itten  those  words  which 
have  impi-essed  our  whole  childhood,  "Jesus  wept!"  "Jesus  wept." 
"  Then  said  the  Jews,  '  Behold  how  He  loved  him.' "  What  the 
miracle  never  did,  what  the  teaching  never  did,  the  tear  did,  and  it 
will  do  it  agaui.  (Cheers.)  As  the  delegates  to  this  Convention 
go  back  to  the  work  that  awaits  their  faith,  their  hei'oism,  their  conse- 
cration ;  let  them  make  self-sacrifice  tlie  melody  of  theu*  life,  let  your 
power  supply  its  notes,  let  yom*  feelings  enrich  its  melody,  let  eveiy 
opportunity  be  tuned  to  the  immortal  strain. 

Gaze  into  the  past  as  you  have  done  this  week,  and  get  experience 
from  it ;  gaze  into  the  futm-e  and  get  inspu-ation  from  it ;  above  aU,  be 
alive  to  the  throbbing  necessity  of  the  present  moment.  I  can  always 
feel  in  connection  with  a  work  hke  this  that  the  finest  field  is  given  to 
you  Sunday  school  teachers.  "  Sound,  sound  the  clarion,  slu-ill  the  fife, 
to  all  the  sensual  world  proclaim  one  crowded  houi*  of  glorious  life  is 
worth  an  age  without  a  name."  On  the  heights  of  Alma,  and  with 
this  I  conclude,  wheu  the  English  stormed  them  there  was  a  man  who 
earned  the  flag  somewhat  in  advance  of  his  troop.  He  planted  the  flag 
on  the  rampart.  The  captain  thought  the  flag  in  danger ;  so  he  called 
out  to  the  ensign,  "Bring  back  that  fliig  to  the  men."  And  the 
ensign, — he  was  a  yoimg  man,  and  his  eye  waa  lit  up  with  the  fii-e  of 
heroism,  and  his  face  was  black  with  the  smoke  of  battle — answered. 


366  Closinrj  Meeting  at  Exeter  Eall. 

"  What  ?  bring  the  flag  back  to  the  men  ?  Never  !  Bring  the  men  up 
to  tlie  flag."  (Loud  cheers.)  That  is  the  spirit  Ave  want.  There 
must  be  no  retreat ;  there  must  be  no  surrender,  no  retreat  to  the  dead 
level  of  indolence,  no  siu-reuder  to  the  secularist  spirit  of  the  ago. 
Then  quit  you  like  men,  be  strong. 

When  G-od  speaks,  be  silent ;  when  God  commands,  obey ;  when 
■  cliUdhood  appeals  for  guidance,  away  to  the  thick  of  duty ;  when  man 
cries  for  lielp,  away  to  his  assistance.  Cut  yom'  way  through 
impatience ;  cut  yom-  way  througb  discom-agement ;  cut  yom-  way 
thi-ough  cowardice  ;  cnt  your  way  through  selfishness  ;  cut  your  way, 
for  your  struggle  is  sbort,  yom*  sword  is  truth,  your  joy  is  eternal,  and 
yom-  battle  is  the  Lord's.     (Cheers.) 

The  Pkesident  :  "We  have  had  the  privilege  to  hear  representatives 
fi-om  all  the  difierent  charters  of  the  globe.  Cm-  t-iend  Mr.  Wilhams, 
who  has  just  spoken,  we  have  listened  to  with  great  pleasm-e.  He  repre- 
sents two  couutries.  I  am  glad  to  say  he  now  represents  London,  but  he 
also  represents  Wales  (cheers)  fi-om  wlieuce  I  beheve  he  came.  There- 
fore  ho  represents  the  two,  and  ^\e  are  very  glad  to  have  had  the 
privilege  of  his  words  this  evening.  I  am  sure  it  would  be  in  acoord- 
ance  with  the  spirit  of  the  meeting  if,  before  I  ask  Mr.  Jacobs  to  give 
the  concluding  address  (cheers),  I  ask  him  to  entreat  God's  blessing 
in  prayer.  Those  of  you  wbo  have  had  the  privilege  of  attending  tho 
Convention  liave  learned  to  love  him,  if  I  may  say  so,  in  the  few  days 
you  have  seen  him,  and  those  who  have  not  attended  the  Convention 
would  not  like  to  part  without  a  closing  \\ord  of  inspii-ation  from  him. 
(Cheers.) 

Mr.  E.  r.  Jacobs,  amidst  perfect  silence,  delivered  a  short  and  im- 
pressive prayer.      He  then  addressed  the  meetmg   amidst  cheers   as 
follows  : — It  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  me  at  least  to  stand  in  this  hall, 
made  sacred  by  so  many  associations,  and  filling  yom-  minds  with  so 
many  memories,  and  look  into  your  faces  in  remembrance  of  the  hours 
of  communion  and  fellowship  that  we  have  enjoyed  together  dm-ing  tho 
few  days  tliat  are  past.     But  it  is  a  far  more  wonderful  thmg  to  stand 
here  to-nin-ht  in  the  presence  of  God  oiu*  Father,  and  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  om-  Saviour,  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit  our  Comforter  and  Guide, 
and  look  back  over  a  century  of  Sunday  school  work,  and  see  what  has 
been  accomphshed,  and  try  to  look  forward  to  the  coming  century,  and 
imagme  what  God  is  waiting  to  do  for  us.     AVe  need  indeed  to  have 
om-  eyes  anointed  with  heavenly  ointment ;  we  need  indeed  to  have 
our  imnd-s  enlarged,  and  om-  hearts  strengthened,  that  we  may  reaeli 
out  and,  in  His  name,  try  to  grasp  the  possibilities  that  are  before  us, 
and  press  forward  in  the  work  He  has  given  us  to  do.     I  am  afraid 
lest,  if  I  iindertake  to  speak  without  my  notes,  I  shall  weary  your 
patience,  for  I  am  very  likely  to  speak  for  90  or  100  mmutes. 

Let  me  remind  you  that  the  records  of  the  first  centm-y  of  Ameiicau 
national  history  are  filled  with  acliievements  and  progress  that  astonish 
the  world.     I  speak  as  an  AmericaUj  and  by  piermission.     (Laughter,) 


Cli'sing  Meeliiu/  at  Exolcr  TTnll.  3G7 

But  the  book  tlint  eoutaius  the  liislury  ol'  the  Clmirli  uf  Jesus  Clirist 
during  tho  )iast  century  is  ei-owded  with  wondei-s  and  blessings  that 
eall  for  the  deepest  gi-atitude  and  encourage  tlio  bohlest  faitli.  Tlic 
history  of  modern  Sunday  school  work  is  nearly  all  recorded  in  this 
volume,  and  1  his  work  is  adniitled  (o  rank  among  1  ho  great  things  of 
the  century. 

The  day  has  passed  when  men  possessing  intelligence,  or  who  lay  any 
claim  to  it,  can  look  Sunday  school  workers  in  the  face  and  suc^cst 
that  theirs  is  a  work  for  women  and  children.  There  are  at  tiiis 
hour  engaged  in  this  work  men  of  equal  brain  ])ower  and  equal  heart 
power,  of  equal  iuflueuco  in  the  pulpit  and  iu  business  circles,  of 
equal  pui-ity  of  hfe  and  breadth  of  character  with  any  other  men  that 
tread  tlie  plauet  on  which  wo  live.  (Cheers.)  There  is  gi-eat  dignity 
attached  to  the  Sunday  school  work.  I  stayed  a  few  weeks  ago  in  tho 
city  of  Newhaven.  I  was  jjcrmitted  to  spend  an  hour  of  fellowship 
with  my  beloved  friend  Professor  "William  H.  Harper  of  Yale  Collci-, 
\)erluii)s  in  some  respects  the  most  wonderful  teacher  of  Ilebrcw  that 
our  century  has  pi'oduccd,  iu  America  at  least ;  a  man  whose  name  has 
gone  round  the  world.  That  man  I  found  to  be  not  only  deeply 
engaged  and  interested  in  this  ■\>ork,  but  personally  the  teacher  of  two 
Sunday  school  classes  in  Yale  College ;  one  of  the  freshmen's  class 
numbering  123  students,  and  a  Bible  class  with  from  90  to  100 
members.  Some  ladies  in  the  city  of  Newhaven  called  upon  Dr. 
Harper,  and  asked  him  if  he  would  conduct  a  teachers'  trauiing  class,  a 
class  for  the  thorough  study  of  one  book  of  the  Bible,  tliat  they  might 
get  an  insight  into  the  way  of  studying  the  Bible  ;  and  the  doctor  told 
them  that  his  engagements  were  too  great  and  many  to  allow  him  to 
make  new  ones.  They  said,  "  Doctor,  Ave  had  not  thought  you  Avoidd 
do  this  without  some  compensation,  and  we  have  agreed  to  pay  you 
£•1  each,  or  20  dollars  of  our  money,  being  500  dollars  for  tho 
class  of  25  ladies."  Such  was  the  desire  to  study  the  Word  of  God  in 
Kewhaven.     (Cheers.) 

I  tell  you,  gentlemen,  it  is  getting  to  be  a  dignified  business  to  be  a 
Sunday  school  teacher.  (Laughter.)  Not  only  so,  but  I  was  iu  the 
city  of  Boston  with  Mr.  George  W.  Cabel,  whose  name  I  am  sm-e  has 
floated  across  the  Atlantic.  He  is  a  teacher  of  a  class  of  more  than 
2000  men  and  women,  who  come  together  on  Saturday  afternoon, 
having  come  there  from  73  towns  and  cities,  leaving  their  business, 
giving  time  and  money,  payiug  their  o%vn  expenses,  and  contributing 
2500  dollars,  or  £500,  per  annum  to  the  teaclier  who  will  teach  the  one 
lesson  a  week  dm-ing  tho  week.  It  is  dignified  work  teaeliing  iu  the 
Sunday  school.  Perhaps  some  of  us  have  not  had  quite  as  much  pay 
as  would  tend  to  increase  oiu-  dignity ;  we  may  have  little  stimulus  iu 
that  direction.  But  wc  rc-afllrm  the  statement  that,  admitting  all  th.-kv 
can  be  claimed  for  any  other  bi-anch  of  church  or  Christian  work,  wo 
solemidy  declare  oiu*  belief,  that  in  the  work  performed,  in  the  residts 
achieved,  and  in  the  expense  incurved,  the  Sunday  school  is  the  most 


3G8  Closing  Blccting  at  Exctov  Hall 

important,  tlio  most  hopeful,  and  the  most  economical  agency  known. 
(Cheers.) 

I  have  only  one  pomt  to  make  in  support  of  that  statement,  for  you 
can  easily  solve  the  problem  with  this.  It  is  the  most  hopeful,  because 
we  have  the  children.  In  the  great  and  awful  conflict  between  truth  and 
error,  between  ftiith  and  ixnbelief,  between  morality  and  virtue  on  the 
one  side  and  immorality  and  vice  on  the  other  side,  between  temperance 
and  intemperance,  between  liberty  and  lawlessness,  the  side  that  gains 
the  children  will  secure  the  victory,  and  the  side  that  loses  the  children 
will  sutler  defeat.  The  destiny  of  England  and  America  is  in  tlio 
hands  of  the  children.  (Cheers.)  If  these  children  are  rightly  led  and 
truly  taught  by  laithful  teachers,  we  shall  be  saved ;  if  they  arc 
neglected  and  untaught,  the  danger  is  appalling.  A  large  number  of 
these  chiLdi-en  are  now  in  om*  Sunday  schools,  and  many  more  are 
within  om*  reach ;  therefore,  we  are  to  a  great  extent  responsible  for  the 
futm-e.  Great  and  expanding  as  this  thought  is  when  applied  to  our 
own  country,  it  increases  as  we  remember  that  we  have  much  to  do  in 
deciding  the  destiny  of  the  world.  The  best  way  to  meet  the  responsi- 
bility is  to  push  oin*  work.  The  best  place  to  begin  our  work  is 
nearest  our  home,  and  the  best  time  is  now. 

I  fidly  agree  with  a  distinguished  brother  who  m-ged  that  the  very 
first  requu'ement  of  a  Sunday  school  worker  is  sympathy  -v^ith  those 
for  whom  and  with  whom  he  has  to  work.  It  is  impossible  for  lis  to 
know  very  m.uch  about  oiu*  work  unless  we  know  those  for  whom  wo 
are  working.  "What  wonderfid  mistakes  of  judgment  "\\ould  bo 
corrected ;  what  wonderful  mistakes  of  methods  would  be  righted, 
what  wonderful  mistakes  of  evei-y  description  would  we  avoid  if  we 
understood  and  felt  for  those  whom  we  were  to  teach.  Years  ago 
a  distinguished  brother  irom  New  York,  a  merchant,  used  to 
come  from  the  west  to  hel])  us  in  our  Simday  school  convention,  and 
lie  said  he  had  been  promoted  from  being  a  superintendent  of  the 
school  and  a  teacher  of  a  class  of  adults  to  become  the  teacher  of  the 
primary  or  infant  class  in  the  Simday  school ;  and  I  tell  you  it  is  a 
great  promotion.     (Cheers.) 

We  need  sympathy.  Mr.  Hart,  a  teacher  in  our  city,  once  said  in  a 
primary  class  there  was  a  httle  fellow  crying.  He  took  a  seat  trying 
to  wipe  his  nose  and  eyes  at  the  same  time  on  his  coat  sleeve,  and  he 
said  uistead  of  rapping  for  order  or  ringing  the  bell  or  shouting,  he 
went  up  and  put  Ids  hand  lovingly  on  the  httle  fellow's  head,  and  said, 
"  My  boy,  what  is  it  you  are  crying  about  ?  "  The  little  fellow 
told  hiux  what  it  was  that  troubled  him,  and  Mr.  Hart  took  him  up  in 
liis  arms  and  kissed  the  tears  olFhis  cheeks,  and  smoothed  his  hair,  and, 
said  he,  "I  tried  to  help  him."  Hear  J.  B.  Grough.  (Cheers.)  He 
told  a  story  about  an  Enghsh  lad.  It  was  printed  in  your  wonderful 
"  British  Workman "  j-ears  ago.  A  little  fellow  was  crying  in  an 
English  school.  The  teacher  kindly  went  to  him  and  said,  "  What 
is  the  matter,  my  boy  ?  "     The  lad  looked  at  him  and  said,  "  Please, 


Clos'imj   Mnliiuj   (tl   E.atrr    Hall.  3G9 

sir,  oui-  olil  donkey  is  (k:ul."  (Lmiglilci'.)  The  man  looketl  iit  (lie 
boy  a  minute,  unci  tried  to  brush  awiiy  ids  tears.  lie  tiieii  turned  to 
tiie  class  and  said,  "  Chilch-en,  Cietn-j^e's  family  bavt;  met  with  a  great 
loss.  You  know  Creor{,'e's  father  drives  a  cart,  and  lie  had  a  donkey 
to  work  it,  and  earn  the  bread.  Now  the  donkey  is  deatl,  and  what 
will  lie  do  for  bread  ?  Don't  you  think  wo  hivd  better  give  our  pennies 
to  help  George's  fuiUcr  to  buy  a  donkey  ?  "  The  man  who  hatl  no 
sympathy  with  a  boy  when  his  donkey  died  was  not  fit  even  to  teach 
the  donkey.  (Laughter.)  "We  have  got  to  get  to  the  bottom  of 
things.  This  is  the  first  step  in  advance  to  the  right  understandinc  of 
the  present  condition  of  things;  then  we  shall  be  prepared  to  go  on. 
Mr.  Gough  had  another  story.  lie  said,  one  night  in  a  sleeping  car 
the  passengers  were  kept  awake  until  a  lale  hour  by  the  crying  of  a 
chUd,  and  suddenly  a  man  who  got  thoroughly  out  of  patience — there 
are  actually  half  a  dozen  of  these  men  in  America  (laughter) — put  his 
head  through  the  curtain  and  said,  "  Where's  the  mother  of  the 
child  ? "  A  voice  came  back  iii  a  minute,  "  In  her  coflin  in  the 
baggage  cai\"  Presently  there  was  a  thud  on  the  floor,  and  a  pair  of 
feet  in  blue  yarn  stockings  struck  the  carpet,  a  great  pair  of  anus  was 
stretched  out,  and  a  voice  said,  "  Just  give  me  that  baby,  and  the  rest 
of  you  go  to  sleep.  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  my  dropping  it.  I 
liave  held  them  before."  He  said,  "  Please,  go  to  sleep."  He  put  it 
over  his  shoulder,  put  his  great  hand  on  it,  and  began  in  his  low  voice 
to  sing  to  it.     I  suppose  he  sang — 

"  Hush,  my  dear,  lie  still  and  slumber, 
Holy  angels  guard  thy  head  ;" 

and  I  think  the  angel  that  guarded  the  child  was  about  six  feet  high, 
and  weighed  about  fom-teen  stone.  (Laughter.)  These  are  the  very 
kind  of  angels  tliis  world  is  longing  for  now.  (Hear,  hear.)  There 
has  got  to  be  more  of  the  tender  sympathy  entering  into  all  our  work 
from  beginning  to  end.  I  heard  of  a  man  who  went  out  of  his  house 
one  morning,  and  after  he  had  gone  a  lady  called  and  found  the  wife  in 
tears.  "  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  She  said,  "  My  husband  did  not  kiss 
me  when  he  Avent  away  this  morning."  "  Does  he  live  in  England?  " 
I  am  almost  afraid  some  of  your  wives  would  cry  if  you  did  kiss  them. 
(Laughter  and  cheers.)  Why,  you  used  to  kiss  her.  There  was  a 
time  when  vou  were  unwdling  that  any  other  lip  should  touch  lier 
cheek.  Do  you  do  it  now  ?  We  have  got  to  deal  with  that  tender 
lovin"  spii'it  that  filled  the  heart  of  the  Son  of  God  when  He  was  down 
here.  Let  us  also  be  thoroughly  persuaded  that  "  thoughtful  men  are 
convinced  that  the  closing  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  constitute  a 
momentous  crisis  in  the  history  of  the  nation."  "  There  is  a  march  of 
events  that  will  not  tarry."  Other  agencies  may  have  a  temporary 
efiFect  for  good,  but  we  believe  the  statement  that  "  The  Gospel  nmst 
furnish  the  solution  of  the  great  social  problems  ;  "  and  we  beheve 
that,  of  all  the  Gospel  instrumentalities  used   by    the   church,  the 

2  B 


370  Cluslmj  Mcutiuij  at  Exder  Hall. 

iSunday  school  liiid  the  Ih'st  phieo,  because  it  has  the  children  and  the 
youth.     (Cheers.) 

Let  me  pass  on  to  suggest  to  you  that  Sunday  school  work  is  an 
element  of  the  greatest  power  in  education.  The  Sunday  school  is  a 
wonderful  educator.  Men  have  been  on  the  platform  of  our  Couveu- 
tion  who  have  told  lis  that  they  learned  to  read  the  Bible  and  spell  the 
"Word  of  God  in  the  Simday  school.  Like  the  old  colom-ed  woman,  who 
coming  out  of  slavery  went  into  the  Sunday  school  to  learn  to  read, 
they  gave  her  a  book.  She  said,  "Will  you  please  teach  me  to  spell 
the  name  of  Jesus  fu'st,  for  it  appears  to  me  all  the  rest  will  come 
easier  if  I  learn  that  blessed  name."     (Cheers.) 

As  an  educational  force  the  Simday  school  has  not  been  given  its 
proper  place.  American  Chi'istians  are  slowly  arousing  to  the  mighty 
efforts  that  are  made  by  sceptics  and  Romanists  to  undermine  our 
educational  system.  The  Bible  is  being  excluded  from  our  public 
schools ;  infidelity  and  scepticism  ai-e  assailing  our  young  men  and 
■women  from  professors'  chairs,  in  high  institiitions  of  learning,  and  the 
Catholics,  declaring  that  education  without  religion  is  dangerous,  have 
established  in  the  L^nited  States  2606  parochial  schools,  where  500,000 
childi'en  are  being  taught.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  attention  that  in  large 
cities  many  childi-en  m  Protestant  Simday  schools  enjoy  but  few  other 
educational  advantages,  and  even  in  the  rm-al  districts  many  scholars 
are  here  taught  to  read,  and  are  helped  in  other  studies,  because  the 
system  of  Sunday  school  teaching  is  constantly  reaching  out  after 
historical,  biographical,  and  scientific  facts,  to  illustrate  and  enforce  the 
lessons  of  Scripture.  And,  while  it  may  be  truly  said  that  the  only 
text  book  of  the  Sunday  school  is  the  Bible,  yet  how  great  is  its  power. 
As  an  educator  it  is  fitted  to  teach  and  tram  the  conscience  and  to 
educate  the  reflective  powers.  It  is  well  said  that  "  the  Bible  has 
originated  our  intellectual  life  and  foi-med  oiu-  power  in  two  hundred 
languages  and  dialects."  It  exei'cises  its  power  on  the  imagination, 
and,  regulating  the  conscience  and  the  will,  it  forms  character,  which  is 
the  object  of  aU  true  teaclmig  ;  it  is  the  educator  of  the  world  in  ai"t 
and  music,  "and  the  debt  of  litcratm'e  to  the  Bible  is  like  the  debt  of 
vegetation  to  the  light." 

We  have  a  college  known  as  Girard  College.  A  man  left  a  great 
fortune,  large  in  that  time,  and  which  has  increased  to  an  enormous 
size,  to  found  an  institiition  of  leai-ning,  and  fi-om  that  institution  he 
shut  out  in  his  will  every  clergyman  of  eveiy  denommation.  I  was 
visiting  my  friend  George  H.  Stewart.  They  told  me  I  should  find 
liim  on  the  board  of  du-ectors  at  a  meeting  at  Gh-ard  College.  I  went 
and  they  said :  "  You  cannot  go  in,  sir."  I  said  :  "  You  are  mis- 
taken." The  porter  said :  "  I  cannot  let  joxi  go  in ;  stand  aside."  I 
said,  "  Cannot  go  in  !  I  viill  go  in.  You  don't  understand  what  you 
are  talking  about ;  you  mean  well  enough,  but  jou  misunderstand  the 
case.  Take  my  card  to  Mr.  Stewart."  He  came  back  in  a  few  minutes 
and  said,  "  Please  walk  in."     "  Certainly ;    I  simply  stayed  here  to 


Clou! Ill/   Mccl'niij   id   Excicr   JJdll.  "71 

catch  luy  breath."  (Laughter.)  Mr.  ytowart  invited  mc  to  sjicuk 
to  1700  bovs  in  that  institution.  I  snid:  "I  thought  you  did  not 
allow  preaching  here."  "  Oh,  yes,  laymen  and  business  men  ;  not 
clergymen.  Mr.  Girard  said  nothing  about  laymen  prcnching,  though 
he  declared  that  a  minister  should  not  enter.  So  wc  throw  the  doors 
open  to  laymen.  We  have  thcni  here  two  or  three  tunes  a  week 
preaching  to  our  boys."  This  is  not  the  only  door  iu  the  world  for 
laymen  to  enter. 

There  are  merchants  in  Great  Britain,  if  ever  they  are  to  be  con- 
verted, they  will  be  converted  through  the  testimony  of  some  gi-eat 
mei'chant.  If  the  lawyers  are  converted,  it  will  be  through  some  gi-eat 
lawyer.  If  physicians  are  ever  to  be  brought  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  it  will  be  by  the  hand  of  some  man,  who,  Uke  the  great  Physician 
lumsclf,  win  have  found  a  way  to  theii-  hearts.  If  the  ladies  of  the 
United  .Kingdom  are  ever  to  be  saved,  it  will  be  by  great  ladies  of  the 
nobility.  If  boys  and  gii-ls  are  ever  to  be  saved,  they  will  be  saved  by 
those  nearest  to  them.  God  has  sent  us  all  out  into  this  work.  I  said 
to  Mr.  Stewart,  "  How  did  you  get  the  Bible  into  Girard  College  ?  " 
He  said  :  "It  was  a  pi'ovisiou  of  the  will  that  morality  of  the  liighest 
type  sliould  be  taught  there  (cheers),  and  we  put  in  the  Bible.  They 
brought  a  test  case  against  us  to  exclude  the  Bible,  but  the  State  Court 
declared  tlie  Bible  to  be  the  kighest  test-book  on  moraUty  known  to  the 
world."  (Cheers.)  Wlieu  some  enthusiastic  and  maiTellously  beneficent 
person  stands  up  at  2s.  or  4.s.  a  head  to  lecture  on  the  mistakes  of 
Moses,  let  the  Sunday  school  teacher  take  these  prophets  of  mfldehty 
to  the  Supreme  Coiu't,  who  have  passed  their  verdict  on  the  subject, 
ai\d  tell  them  they  had  better  take  their  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Heaven. 
There  are  some  mistakes  that  Moses  did  not  mate  (laughter) ;  a 
good  many  ;  there  are  some  mistakes  that  Christ  has  not  made  ;  there 
are  some  mistakes  that  are  not  made  by  those  who  follow  the  teachings 
of  that  Book,  and  are  guided  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  mistakes  that  none  of 
us  Avill  make  if  we  stand  sohdly  on  the  everlastmg  Rock  and  the  precious 
impenetrable  riches  of  Christ.  (Cheers.)  Aiid  who  is  an  advanced 
thinker  and  profoimd  teacher,  compared  with  Jesus  Christ  ?  and  where 
can  fresh  thought  and  sublime  ethics  be  found  if  not  in  that  Book  ? 

In  the  fidl  hgbt  of  all  discoverj-,  investigation,  and  criticism,  the 
declaration  remains  midisturbed  and  imshaken  that  "  all  Scriptm-e  given 
by  inspiration  of  God  is  profitable,"  and  thereby  "  the  man  of  God  may 
be  tliorouglily  fimiished  unto  every  good  work,  and  made  -wise  unto 
salvation."  And  tliis  word  unto  signifies  right  on  to  the  day  of  salva- 
tion. It  has  fui'mshed,  it  does  fru-nish,  and  it  will  contmue  to  furnish, 
nil  such,  right  on  to  the  day  of  salvation.  It  may  be  said  that  our 
pi\bhc  schools  have  grown  out  of  the  Bible,  for  no  sooner  had  Luther 
finished  his  translation  than  he  suggested  to  the  magistrates  that  the 
children  be  educated  at  pubhc  expense,  and  out  of  that  gi-ew  the  pubhc 
school  system. 

President   Grant   (cheers)    said  :    "  Hold  fast  to    the  Bible  as  the 

2  B  2 


372  Closing  Meeting  at  Mxeier  JBtatl. 

sheet  anchor  to  yom-  hberties,  wTite  its  precepts  iii  yoiu'  hearts,  and 
practise  them  in  yonr  Uves.  To  the  influence  of  tliis  Book  we  are 
indebted  for  all  progress  made  in  our  true  civiUzation,  and  to  this  ^\e 
must  look  as  oiu"  guide  in  the  futiu-e."  The  Erenchmau,  Emile  de 
Laveleye,  in  his  book,  "  L'Instruction  du  Peuple,",says  :  "The  Sunday 
schools  of  the  United  States  form  the  strongest  fomidations  for  the 
perpetuation  of  its  E,epubhcan  institutions."  (Cheers.)  And  he  would 
say  with  equal  truth,  and  force,  and  application,  that  the  foundation  of  the 
empire  of  Great  Britain  rests  upon  it,  and  yoiu"  own  glorious  and 
blessed  Queen  has  asserted  the  same  tiring.  (Cheers.)  Tahnage  says 
"  The  conquest  of  America  will  be  by  the  conquering  army  of  children, 
they  are  the  preface  to  the  book  of  the  futiu-e.  The  destiny  of  our 
country  is  revealed  in  the  boy  of  to-day.  Which  shall  conquer,  the 
good  or  bad  ?  "  And  he  cries  out,  "  Oh  for  one  generation  of  holy 
men!"  and  he  asks,  "Shall  it  be  the  next?"  (Yes.)  That  is  om- 
wish ;  that  is  our  work.     (Cheers.) 

And  I  remind  you,  in  the  second  place,  that  we  need  faith  in  God 
and  a  willing  spirit  to  do  that  which  He  has  committed  to  us. 
Sometimes  we  say  the  difficulties  are  too  great.  You  heard  a  man 
yesterday  morning  speaking  of  the  work  m  the  State  called  Minnesota. 

I  do  not  know,  but  perhaps  you  wish  to  go  to  bed.  Do  you  ?  (Cries 
of  "  Go  on.")  I  can  come  once  again  some  other  time.  (Laughter.) 
Well,  I  was  in  the  State  of  Minnesota  a  few  years  ago,  far  beyond 
St.  Paul.  I  tried  to  get  out  of  the  reach  of  the  telegraph  and 
railway  train.  I  spent  Sunday  in  a  tent  with  my  family  and  a 
few  friends  on  the  bank  of  a  lovely  lake.  We  had  morning  prayers 
and  Bible  reading.  We  then  got  into  a  canoe  and  rowed  across  the 
lake.  We  went  out  through  some  fields — you  know  how  the  road 
turns  there  (laughter),  and  there  was  a  schoolhouse.  We  walked  up 
to  it.  It  was  one  of  the  old-fashioned  ones,  such  as  we  used  to  go  to 
when  boys,  a  stove  pipe  right  through  the  centre  of  the  roof.  There 
was  a  stove  in  the  centre  of  the  biulding  and  one  row  of  benches  all 
round.  I  said  to  a  little  chap,  "  Is  there  a  Sunday  school  here  ?  " 
"Yes,  su',  there  is."  "When  does  it  begin?"  said  I.  He  said; 
"  Mighty  soon.  As  soon  as  the  supermtendent  gets  here.  There  she 
comes."  "She  comes?"  said  I.  "There  she  comes.  Yes,  there  she 
comes."  I  looked  down  the  load,  and  siu-e  enough  sJie  was  coming. 
She  had  a  great  grey  horse.  You  remember  the  old  grey  horse  in  that 
fuimy-looking  carriage  like  a  wagon,  you  know.  She  was  moving  her 
hands  backwards  and  forwards.  (Laughter).  I  thought  if  I  had  any 
particidar  work  to  do  there,  it  would  be  to  hold  the  horse  for  that 
woman  while  she  got  herself  and  the  chilch'en  out.  There  she  sat,  one 
child  on  her  seat,  two  in  her  lap,  two  thrown  down  in  front,  and  a 
couple  behind.  (Laughter.)  It  was  a  good  load  for  what  we  call  a 
buggy,  a  one-seated  affau*.  She  said, "  Boys,"  and  they  began  to  tumble 
out,  one  this  side,  one  that,  and  one  behind.  (Laughter.)  One  said  : 
"  Mistei',  take    out  the  library,   will  ye?"     Isaid:  "Where  is  it?" 


Closlnrj  Mcdinrj  at  Exeter  Hall.  373 

"  UiuIl-i-  tlio  scat,"  was  tlic  ivply.  Tint  i.s  what,  you  would  call  a 
running  nccompiuiinicnt.  (Laughter.)  I  lound  in  au  old  bandana 
handkcvchief  eleven  books  scut  up  from  sonic  Sunday  school  nobody 
knows  where.  We  went  in  with  the  procession  into  the  schoolliouse 
und  found  several  benches  there.  Two  other  women  joined  us,  and 
there  was  a  little  group  of  thirteen  scholars  gathered  around.  The 
lady  asked  me  to  help  with  the  teaching.  I  said  I  would  do  the  best  I 
could.  She  said:  "I  shall  have  to  stop  you  when  the  time's  up." 
Tliat  is  right;  that  is  the  way  they  do  it  in  England.  (Cheers.) 
Presently  she  said:  "The  time's  up.  If  you  would  make  a  short 
address,  the  cliildren  would  like  to  hear  you  speak."  I  made  a  short 
addi-ess  ;  at  least  I  tried  to.  She  said  :  "You  can't  talk  long.  I  have 
to  go  to  another  Sunday  school  four  miles  and  a-half  away.  I  have 
not  got  room  in  the  buggy  for  you.  I  suppose  you  don't  hke  to  walk 
that  far."  I  helped  her  into  the  buggy.  I  said  :  "Where  did  you  get 
the  children  ?  "  She  said  :  "  I  picked  them  up  by  the  way."  I  said  : 
"  Give  us  a  few  loving  workers  with  that  woman's  spii-it,  and  surely  there 
are  no  difficulties  on  the  face  of  the  earth  which  would  not  be  over- 
come."    (Cheers.) 

I  had  the  privilege  of  meetmg  a  lady  in  a  beautifid  house  in  one  of 
the  cities  of  Dakota.  I  happened  to  go  there  for  my  health.  She 
showed  me  au  elegant  house  ;  but  she  lived  iu  a  sod  house  for  the  fu'st 
year.  "  What  did  you  do  for  a  Sunday  school  ?  "  I  asked.  She  said  : 
*'  We  had  one  as  soon  as  we  got  the  sod  house."  "  Where  did 
you  get  the  children?"  "Get  them;  where  they  are  to  be  found." 
"  That  is  a  good  place  to  get  them."  (Laughter.)  "  We  brought  a 
horse  here  and  a  good  stout  wagon.  As  soon  as  we  got  a  wagon  full 
we  bumped  it  down  into  the  sod  house  and  started  a  Sunday  school." 
Now  there  was  a  beautiful  temple  to  the  living  God,  and  that  woman 
enjoying  the  service  of  the  ministry,  a  devout  servant  of  Clirist,  and 
aroimd  her  nearly  a  hiuidred  childi"en  gathered  in  by  that  work.  I 
tell  you  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  must  stop  its  retreat,  and  standing 
still,  and  make  a  tremendous  advance  all  along  the  line.  In  the  war  we 
had  a  general  with  a  yoimg  slave  named  Tom.  He  was  on  the  other 
side.  On  one  occasion  there  had  been  quite  a  disaster  happen  to  the 
gentlemen  soldiers.  They  were  badly  used  up.  The  coloured 
gentleman  said :  "  Master  General,  this  child  woidd  like  to  go  home 
and  see  old  folks  a  little  while  if  no  dejection."  (Laughter.)  This 
■was  a  great  place  to  get  home-sick.  General  said  :  "  You  can't  go  now. 
We  can't  spare  you.  What  coidd  we  say  ?  "  "  Well,"  he  said,  "  we 
could  say  that  owing  to  the  state  of  the  countiy  and  the  peculiai* 
cii'Dumstances  of  the  case  we  were  advancing  backwards  and  the  enemy 
was  retreatmg  on  us."  (Laughter.)  That  has  been  the  attitude  of  the 
chxu-ch.  We  have  said,  "  owing  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
case."  It  is  always  pecidiar  circumstances.  I  never  found  a  church 
or  Sunday  school  in  any  to'WTi  or  village  tlu-oughout  the  world  but  it 
)iad  peculiar  circumstances.    Of  course  there  are  peciUiar  circumstancep, 


374  Closviig  Electing  at  Exeter  Hall. 

but  -vve  must,  deal  -v\itli  tliem ;  that  is  •\\liat  we  are  made  for.  It  is 
about  time  we  stopped  advaucing  backwards,  A\liile  the  enemy  retreated 
on  us  -v\ith  full  force.  God's  people  are  needed  to  beUeve  in  His  power, 
and  do  His  work.  "VVe  plead  with  God's  people  to  come  together  hi 
Conventions  hke  this,  and  shoulder  to  shoidder  they  shall  close  up  the 
ranks  and  plan  and  pray  and  wait  to  see  if  we  cannot  reach  these 
people  by  means  of  the  Grospel.  Erothers,  let  us  lay  aside  our 
drffereiTces,  and  close  up  shoulder  to  shoulder  and  push  on  om-  -work, 
and  if  we  cannot  agree  let  us  adjom-n  to  the  millennium  and  talk  it  all 
over  then.  (Laughter.)  Now  for  om*  organization.  We  are  not 
talking  now  about  the  organization  of  the  Sunday  school,  about 
methods  and  plans.  On  Monday  night  I  will  if  you  wish  it.  Now  I 
am  talking  about  the  organization  of  the  ai-my,  the  mobdization  of  the 
work,  briuguig  all  the  corps  and  battahons,  and  regiments,  and  brigades 
into  line. 

Thorough  organization  includes  Convention  and  Institute  work  in 
every  township,  but  does  not  stop  short  of  regular  house-to-house 
visitation  of  the  enth-e  countiy.  This  is  the  only  knovn  way  to  reach 
all  the  people.  To  succeed  in  tliis,  as  well  as  to  make  om'  Conventions 
a  success,  every  county  needs  at  least  one  missionary,  and  some  counties 
need  one  hundi-ed  missionaries.  "  We  are  WLLling  to  be  delighted 
with  success,  though  we  are  somewhat  indifferent  to  the  homely 
qualities  which  insure  it."  The  question  of  a  few  missionaries  is  easily 
solved  ;  the  counties  will  employ  them,  but,  if  the  most  needy  fields  are 
to  he  cultivated,  it  must  he  hij  the  help  of  other  counties.  We  must 
possess  and  cidtivate  the  missionary  spirit.  It  is  useless  to  talk  of 
reaching  the  needy  ludess  greater  effort  is  made.  What  has  been  done 
is  only  what  could  be  done  without  sacrifice  or  great  effort.  If  the 
Lord  has  an  "  alabaster  box  "  in  the  keeping  of  any  Christian,  it  woidd 
seem  to  be  the  tune  to  empty  its  contents  at  His  feet.  He  blessed  the 
poor  "  widow  with  two  mites  "  and  jjut  them  at  interest  for  His  gloiy. 
He  blessed  the  rich  woman  with  "  the  alabaster  vase,"  and  caused  the 
everlasting  perfume  to  come  down  to  us.  Shining  and  blessed  illustra- 
tions of  His  willingness  to  use  the  little  of  the  poor,  and  the  much  of  the 
rich. 

We  suggest  that  contribators  be  allowed  to  give  to  a  definite 
object.  Those  who  wish  may  contribute  towards  the  salaiy  of  a 
secretary  for  India.  I  imderstand  we  have  taken  £62  this  evening. 
AVell,  that  is  enough  to  pay  half  his  fare  over  there ;  but  -n-hat  is  he 
goiug  to  eat  when  he  gets  there  ?     (Laiighter.) 

In  Em'ope  a  Jew  has  given  forty  millions  of  dollars  to  education,  and 
a  Catholic  has  given  twenty  milhons  of  dollars  for  charity,  while  in  oiu' 
own  countiy  one  Catholic  lady  gives  tlu-ee  millions  to  a  university,  and 
another  rehnquishes  a  fortune  of  four  milhons  to  devote  her  life  to 
following  Christ  in  a  convent.  Has  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious 
to  Protestants,  or  to  prosper  those  who  profess  His  name  as  Sunday 
scliool  workers,  or  do  we  lack  the  devotion  that  is  needed  ?     "  If  our 


Ch'niii'j  Mcctiiiij  at  Excivr  Hull.  375 

flecco  be  iliy,  it  is  not  because  there  is  no  dew  in  liCJiven,  nor  because 
none  fell  lust  night."  We  must  Juive  an  errand  to  the  throne,  and 
when  \\c  ask  wo  must  bo  prepared  to  receive.  "If  wo  carry  little 
pitciiers  to  the  well,  wo  shall  bring  little  water  away."  The  men  and 
women  here  gathered  can,  if  they  will,  give  ten  thousand  pounds,  tiiis 
year,  to  this  work. 

I  would  suggest  that  there  is  a  bright  side  to  our  work.  In  many 
places  there  is  an  increasing  feeling  of  personal  responsibility.  This  is 
true  of  many  Sunday  school  workers.  We  have  the  best  part  of  the 
field  to  cultivate,  we  have  the  most  impressible  and  hopeful  class  to 
teach ;  we  have  the  most  fruitful  precious  seed  to  sow,  aiul  we  have 
an  ever-giving  and  ever-living  Savioiu*  to  offer,  and  the  ever-present 
and  all-powerful  Holy  Spirit  to  guide  and  bless  us. 

In  this  day  of  scepticism  and  worldliness,  God  has  given  us  His 
infallible  and  etei-nal  Word  to  teach.  What  dignity  and  authority  is 
conferred  upon  us  !  What  liigh  privilege  is  ours !  What  confidence 
it  gives  to  the  teacher  and  missionary  to  know  that  He  has  said, 
"  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  My  words  shall  not  pass 
away."  It  is  wTitten,  "  He  that  hath  My  word,  let  him  speak  My  m  ord 
faithfully,"  and  "Plainness  is  the  beauty  of  teaching.  What  good 
doth  a  golden  key  that  opens  not  ?  "  Let  us  teach  plainly — "  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  tilings  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you  " — "  His 
Word  the  substance  of  our  teaching,  His  spirit  our  helper,  and  Himself 
our  guide."  If  our  Lord  tarry,  eleven  years  remain  for  work  ere  the 
sun  of  this  century  smk  below  the  horizon.  What  possibilities  are 
enfolded  in  these  eleven  years  !  Wonders  have  not  ceased.  Protestant 
cluu'ches  are  bemg  erected  in  Jerusalem.  Converted  Mohammedans 
are  preaching  the  Gospel  in  India.  200  ehm-ches  and  270  schools  are 
reported  on  the  West  Coast  of  Africa.  The  McAll  Mission  has  134 
stations  in  Paris  and  France  ;  and  in  nine  German  universities  a  move- 
ment has  started  for  mission  work  among  the  Jews,  and  130  students 
have  enrolled  theii'  names  among  those  who  are  to  be  trained  for  this 
piu'pose.  Eleven  years  of  Sunday  school  work !  AVill  the  men  of 
sixty,  who  have  ten  years  to  hvc,  give  these  years  to  Christ  and  His 
service?  Will  the  men  of  forty,  in  the  greatness  of  theii-  strength,  give 
these  years  and  their  strengtli  to  Him  ?  Will  the  young  men,  stepping 
forward  to  begm  the  Christian  life,  push  the  work,  in  His  name  ?  No 
matter  for  past  failm-es, — • 

"Jlen  may  rise,  on  stepping-stones 
Of  their  dead  selves,  to  higher  thhigs." 

AU  things  are  possible  with  God,  and  all  things  are  possible  to  the 
believer.  This  is  a  day  of  decision.  "  The  Holy  Spirit  gives  awfulness 
to  these  services.  We  ai-e  in  His  tremendous  presence,  under  His 
omniscient  eye,  in  the  grasp  of  His  infinite  power,  in  the  gracious 
sphere  of  His  healing  love."  Let  us  here  decide,  if  the  Lord  tames, 
and  we  live,  the  coming  year  shall  witness  that  our  gatlicring  in  this 


370  Closing  Meeting  at  E.veicr  Hull. 

Convention  was  of  Him,  and  for  Him  ;  and,  if  during  this  year  Jesus 
shall  come,  blessed  will  that  servant  he  -vvlio  is  found  waiting,  and 
watching,  and  working  for  his  Lord. 

Brethi'en,  " Let  us  rise  and  go  to  our  work,  to-morrow  ^\c  shall  rise 
and  go  to  our  reward."     (Loud  cheers.) 

The  delegates  sang  vei-y  heartily  the  hymn,  "  God  be  with  you  till  we 
meet  again,"  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  JoHK  Hall  closed  the  meeting  with 
prayer. 


^*^  The  psalmody  thronghont  the  whole  of  the  twelve  sessions  of 
the  Convention  was  admirably  sustained  by  members  of  the  City  of 
London  Branch  of  the  London  Sunday  School  Chou',  conducted  by 
Messrs,  Luther  Hintou  and  W.  Binns, 


FAEEWELL  MEETING  OF  THE  DELEGATED. 


This  gathering  of  delegates  of  the  World's  Sunday  School  Conven- 
tion, by  the  kindness  of  the  Earl  and  Coimtess  of  Aberdeen,  partook  of 
a  somewhat  social  character. 

On  Saturday  afteenoon,  july  6th, 

ill  very  favourable  weather,  nearly  a  thousand  friends  assembled,  to 
l^artake  of  the  generous  hospitahty  of  the  noble  Earl  and  Countess  iu 
theu-  grounds 

AT  DOLLIS  HILL. 

The  visitors  met  with  a  most  hearty  greeting  fi'om  their  distinguished 
host  and  hostess.  The  presentations  lasted  a  full  hour  or  more,  and 
•were  of  the  most  cordial  character. 

Every  possible  consideration  was  shown  for  the  comfort  and  enjoj'- 
ment  of  the  guests.  The  mihtai-y  band  of  the  Homes  for  Little  Boys, 
Earningham,  played  an  admirable  selection  of  uispiriting  airs,  and  a 
little  kilted  band  of  pipers  and  diiimmers  fi-om  the  Eoyal  Caledonian 
Asylum  paraded  the  gi-ounds,  and  discom-sed  that  vigorous  music  which 
thrilis  the  heart  of  Scotsmen,  many  of  whom  were  present  from  regions 
neai-  and  far.  The  lovers  of  gentler  strains  crowded  round  the  hand- 
bell ringers,  that  company  of  Sunday  school  teachers  and  friends  of 
Sunday  schools,  who  perfonm  so  skilfully  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Duncan  S.  MUler.  The  programme  was  iu  keeping  with  the  spirit  of 
the  occasion.  The  ringers,  who  were  attu-ed  in  the  picturesque  costimiu. 
of  the  period  of  Edward  the  Eoui-th,  had  with  them  131  bells.  Now 
they  would  fill  the  ah*  with  the  sweet  sounds  of  carillon,  and  then 
with  the  softer  tones  of  some  well-known  hymn,  such  ns  "  Jesu,  Lover 
of  my  soul,"  to  wliich  the  circle  of  admu-ers  contributed  the  vocal 
accompaniment. 

Nor  were  the  creature  comforts  forgotten.  In  a  large  tent  tables 
were  spread  with  light  refreshments  of  numerous  kinds,  and  all  agree- 
able to  the  palate,  not  excepting  the  cooling  ices  and  the  luscious  straw- 
ben-ies.  Tea,  coffee,  lemonade,  and  water  deUciously  cold,  banished  all 
thought  of  drinks  partaking  of  the  natiu-e  of  intoxicants.  The  noble 
E.irl  as  well  as  Lady  Aberdeen  were  most  gi-acious  and  friendly  to  all ; 


378  Faren-cU  Mcciivj  of  the  JDclrgaL's. 

and  ercrjbody  felt  so  much  at  home  that  the  guests  seemed  to  share  the 
feehug  expressed  openly  by  one,  who  said  he  would  Uke  to  stay  there 
always.  A  knot  of  the  more  distmguished  visitors  and  officials,  whom 
an  enterprising  artist  had  just  photographed,  gradually  grew  into  a 
mass  of  people.  Lord  Aberdeen  appeared  imder  the  Terandah  which 
shades  one  side  of  the  house. 

The  Eabl  of  Ajbeedeek,  presenting  himself  as  the  "  Master  of  the 
Ceremonies,"  informed  those  who  were  anxious  to  catch  "the  special," 
that  he  had  delayed  its  departm-e  imtil  a  few  pai-ting  words  had  been 
exchanged. 

His  Lordship  then  expressed  the  regi-et  of  the  whole  meeting  that 
Ml".  Grladstone,  in  consequence  of  a  previous  and  most  important  en- 
gagement, was  deprived  of  the  pleasm-e  it  would  have  given  liim  to  have 
been  in  their  midst  to-day.  The  noble  Earl  then  asked  for  a  brief 
address  from 

Mi's.  Peaesall  Smith,  who  said  she  felt  very  much  at  home,  for 
one  reason,  among  others,  that  there  were  present  500  Americans. 
That  slie  was  an  .American  they  would  aU  know  when  they  heard  her 
speak. 

Another  thought  that  made  her  very  happy  was  that  all  these  people 
were  on  the  side  of  the  cliildren.  That  had  been  the  cry  of  her  hfe — 
to  have  the  people  on  the  side  of  the  children.  She  then  recalled 
memories  of  her  owoi  childhood,  contrasting  it  with  the  child  life  of 
to-dav,  how,  when  she  was  a  httle  girl,  she  used  to  have  such  a  longing 
desire  for  some  one  to  say  something  to  her  on  rchgious  subjects,  and 
nobody  ever  did. 

The  family  to  which  she  belonged  were  Quakers ;  and  she  recollected 
that  when  the  dear  Friends,  with  then-  folded  shawls  on,  came  to  her 
home,  she  woidd  go  behind  them,  and  take  hold  of  the  shawl  of  one 
and  another — thinking  of  the  idea  of  touching  the  hem  of  the  garment — 
as  if  she  might  catch  some  of  then-  goodness. 

Li  these  days,  she  said,  there  are  so  many  people  on  the  side  of 
the  children  to  teU  them  of  the  love  of  God,  that  it  is  a  gi-and  thing  to 
get  among  such  company.  We  are  in  the  right  place  when  we  are  in 
the  midst  of  people  who  vmderstand  what  the  heart  of  God  is  ;  for  to 
my  mind  it  seems  that  dealing  with  children  teaches  us  what  God's 
relation  is  to  oiu-selves  more  than  anything  else  in  the  world. 

Mrs.  Smith  said  that  she  had  learned  ah  her  theology  In  her  nm'sery 
and  from  her  Sunday  school  class.  I  say  to  myself,  "  If  I  feel  this  way 
towards  yoimg  childi-en,  and  love  them  so  much  that  I  woidd  wUhngly 
lay  do-vvn  my  hfe  to  help  them,  I  can  understand  how  the  Lord  laid 
His  life  down  for  us,  and  He  liked  to  do  it." 

If  there  is  any  single  thing  that  Simday  school  teachers  think  would 
advance  the  interest  of  their  class  or  open  the  eyes  of  their  scholars 
sooner  to  the  hght,  they  shovdd  do  that  thuig,  no  matter  what  it  might 
involve  in  the  way  of  tod.  and  self-sacrifice.  "What  a  lesson  that  ought 
to  be  to  i^s  aboixt  the  lore  of  God  ! 


Farewell  Mcciinr/  of  the  Delegates.  379 

If  I  have  ono  word  to  s.iy  in  tlic  way  of  advice — though  I  feel  that 
is  perfectly  absurd  iu  the  presence  of  many  friends  of  the  young  as  aa-o 
here  gathered  together — I  woiUd  say,  do  make  the  children  understand 
that  the  Lord  loves  them.  I  grew  up  thinking  that  He  did  not  love 
me,  because  I  used  to  be  told  in  those  days  that,  when  I  was  naughty, 
God  did  not  love  me.  When,  however,  I  grew  older,  I  found  that  Grod 
did  love  children  when  they  were  naughty,  but  did  not  love  their 
naughtiness.  When  my  owni  little  children  were  babies,  I  used  to  feel 
delighted  to  think  I  had  somebody  to  whom  I  could  tell  the  blessed 
story  of  the  Gospel ;  and  they  were  bomid  to  believe  it  because  I  knew 
they  would  beheve  what  mother  said.  And  so  I  woidd  stand  by  the 
crib  at  night  and  tell  them  the  story  of  Jesus.  They  used  to  say,  "Tell 
ine  'tory,  tell  me  'tory." 

I  always  found  that  when  the  cluldi'en  were  naughty,  my  teUiu" 
them  that  story  did  more  to  quiet  them  and  make  them  good  than  all 
the  scolding  and  punishment  could  do. 

Somehow,  children  must  be  made  to  understand  that  the  Lord  loves 
them,  not  the  big  people  only,  nor  only  the  good  people,  because  if  they 
have  to  wait  imtil  God  makes  them  good  before  He  loves  thorn,  some  of 
them  will  have  to  wait  a  long  time. 

We  must  make  these  young  ones  understand  that  Jesus  loves  them, 
and  that  He  is  on  the  side  of  the  childi'en.  When  they  once  get  that 
into  then*  hearts  we  may  safely  trust  the  love  of  God  in  Chi-ist  Jesus  to 
lead  them  right  tlu'ough  Hfe. 

And  what  a  privilege  it  is  to  have  the  moulding  of  the  dear  children. 
They  can  beheve  the  Gospel. 

Mrs.  Smith  remembered  the  fh-st  time  she  ever  heard  anybody  real/// 
teach  the  Gospel  to  cliildren.  Little  children,  she  thought,  could  be 
converted  just  as  much  as  big  people.  She  coidd  tell  the  story  of  one 
of  her  own  httle  childi'eu.  He  was  natiu-aUy  a  naughty  httle  boy. 
He  Uked  to  slap  and  throw  things  about  and  tear  leaves  out  of  books. 
One  day  his  sister — she  was  seven  and  he  five — said,  "Brother,  I  want 
you  to  be  a  Christian  and  to  have  a  new  heai't."  In  the  afternoon  the 
little  boy  said,  "  Mother,  sister  has  been  praying  for  me."  She  inquii-ed 
what  did  she  pray. 

He  said,  "  I  do  not  like  to  tell  you."  He  felt  bashful,  and  said  sister 
woidd  ted  mother  all  about  it.  After  dinner,  her  httle  girl  told  her, 
"  I  said  to  Fanny" — that  was  her  companion — "  make  Logan  come  into 
the  library  and  get  a  new  heart."  They  then  went  into  the  hbrary  and 
the  little  ghl  prayed,  "  Dear  Jesus,  give  Logan  a  new  heart,  and  don't 
let  him  tell  any  more  Ues." 

Then  the  little  friend  prayed,  "  Dear  Jesus,  give  Logan  a  new  heart." 
She  was  too  pohte  to  say  about  his  telling  any  more  hes. 

The  httle  girl  then  told  her  brother  to  get  on  his  knees,  and  then  she 
said  to  him,  "  Now,  Logan,  the  Bible  says  that  when  you  ask  Jesus  for  a 
new  heart,  He  always  gives  it ;  and  you  beheve  He  does."  "  Yes,"  said 
he.     "Now,"  she  said,  "you  liave  got  a  new  heart."     He  said,  "Oh-' 


380  Fareiuell  Meeting  of  the  Delegates. 

yes,"  and  lie  really  liacl.  He  M'as  after  that  sucli  a  good  boj'  that  liis 
luotliev  thought  lie  AAas  getting  ready  to  die. 

About  two  AvoclvS  later,  they  were  -n-alking  along  the  street,  her  little 
boy  said  to  her,  "  Mother,  I  want  to  tell  you  a  secret."  "  What  is  it  ?  " 
He  said,  "  I  have  got  a  new  heart,  and  it  is  so  soft."  She  inquired, 
"  When  did  yon  get  it,  Logan  ?  "  "  Oh!  Avhen  sister  and  Tanny  and  nic 
prayed."  His  mother  asked  him,  "How  do  you  know  it's  so  soft?" 
"  Because,"  lie  said,  "  it  doesn't  feel  ugly  and  cross  as  the  old  heart 
used  to  do." 

Very  little  childi-en  can  be  converted  in  that  way,  if  only  we  are 
simple  enough  in  our  teaching  to  let  them  see  the  blessed  truth  of  it. 

The  Eaei  of  Abehdeen,  before  calling  upon  one  or  two  other 
friends  to  speak,  expressed  the  pleasure  it  had  giTen  him  and  Lady 
Aberdeen  to  receive  the  large  gathering.  At  all  times  it  was  a  pleasant 
thing  to  be  allowed  to  receive  a  company  of  friends,  and  such  occasions 
were  always  more  interesting  to  them  wlien  the  company  included 
many  American  fiiends.  But  they  had  a  special  reason  for  appreciating 
the  occasion,  because  it  was  distinctly  a  gatlieriug  of  Sunday  school 
teachers.  There  were  many  veterans  in  the  great  cause.  It  -was  a 
cause  wliicli  had  a  great  past,  and  it  would  have  a  great  future.  He 
believed  its  future  woidd  be  greater  than  its  past.  There  was  ali-eady 
an  increasing  tendency  in  this  country  to  place  the  distinctly  religious 
upbringing  of  childi'en  in  the  hands  of  Simday  school  teachers.  In 
contemplating  the  fact  they  must,  more  than  ever,  realize  the  enormous 
significance  of  the  Sunday  school  movement. 

Mr.  B.  P.  Jacobs  {Chicago), 

speaking  for  tlie  American  delegates,  remarked  that  it  had  been  boast- 
ingly  said,  that  if  the  skies  were  to  fall,  the  bayonets  of  Russia  would 
hold  them  up  ;  but  his  fixm  belief  was,  that  if  the  flood  and  fidl  tide  of 
sin  and  ruin  came  upon  us,  the  strong  faith  and  strong  government  of 
England,  combined  with  the  strong  faith  and  united  hearts  of  America, 
would  do  much  to  stem  that  tide.  He  was  profoundly  impressed  with 
the  debt  and  gratitude  wliicb  Americans  owed  to  England.  More  than 
any  other  government  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  England  had  conserved 
and  preseiwed  the  Clu'istian  liberties  they  enjoyed. 

It  was  to  Her  Majesty,  that  blessed  and  honom-able  woman,  the 
Queen  of  Great  Britain,  they  owed  a  marvelloiis  debt  of  gratitude ;  for 
ever  dm-ing  her  life  her  band  had  been  stretched  up  and  out  in  favour 
of  freedoni  thi'oughout  the  earth.  They  were  engaged  in  a  wonderful 
work.  He  believed  that  the  most  thoughtfid  and  far-sighted  worker  m 
the  Sunday  school  ranks  to-day  had  only  caught  a  glimmer  of  the  gloiy 
that  was  to  be. 

The  world  is  coming  more  and  more  to  understand  the  power  of 
childhood.  It  has  often  been  said  that  Jesus  Cln-ist  discovered  child- 
l;ood.     We  imderstaiid  fidl  well  the  plape  that  is  given  to  childhood. 


FarcwrU  Mfiilii'j  <>f  the  Dchijales.  381 

llic  world  is  buwiiij;  around  (lie  litLlo  child,  whotlicr  in  tlie  fiimily, 
the  cluircli,  or  the  nation. 

At  San  Francisco,  in  the  United  States,  a  lather,  dissipated  and 
sluunefully  wicked,  tried  to  take  awuy  from  the  mother  the  custody  of 
a  little  f^irl.  He  swore  in  open  court  that  his  wife  was  vicious  and 
unworthy  of  the  custody  of  the  child.  The  magistrate,  however,  asked 
wiio  had  taught  her  to  pray ;  and  wlien  the  chdd  said  it  was  her  mother, 
the  judge  at  once  delivered  her  to  her  mother,  and  told  the  father  that 
he  had  proved  himself  lunvorthy  of  the  custody  of  the  child. 

God  give  to  Sunday  school  teachers  great  consecration,  wisdom,  and 
humility,  in  order  that  they  may  have  great  success!  Bear  in  mind 
that  as  we  separate,  and  may  not  perhaps  meet  again  on  this  side  of  the 
river,  that  they  and  we  are  on  our  journey  to  a  place  where  we  shall 
look  into  the  face  of  Him  for  whose  sake  we  are  gathered  together,  and 
ill  whose  strength  we  are  attempting  this  work.  For  one,  I  am  looking 
forward  to  that  hour. 

The  company  then  sang,  on  tlic  spur  of  the  moment — 

"  We  sing  of  the  realms  of  the  blest, 
That  country  so  bright  and  so  fair." 

Loi'd  KiNNAliiD,  aa  the  President  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  for 
the  year,  moved  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Earl  and  Countess  of 
Aberdeen  for  their  gracious  invitation  to  the  delegates,  and  for  their 
generous  liospitality.  They  woidd  never  forget  that  Satm-day  afternoon, 
which  came  so  auspiciously  at  the  close  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  F.  F.  Belset,  J.P.,  as  President  of  the  Convention,  seconded  llie 
motion,  with  the  obsei-vation  that  Lady  Aberdeen  had  manifested  prac- 
tical interest  in  the  movement  by  which  no  less  a  sum  than  £2000 
hail  been  raised  towards  Simday  school  Extension. 

The  assembly  accepted  the  resolution  with  three  cheers  (given  in  old 
English  fashion)  for  Lord  and  Lady  Aberdeen,  with  one  cheer  more  for 
her  Ladyship,  and  another  for  the  children. 

iJie  Earl  of  Aberdeen  briefly  replied  for  lumself  and  the  Countess. 
There  was,  however,  a  murmur  of  expectancy,  and  her  Ladyship, 
divining  the  general  wish,  responded  by  giving  a  brief  address. 

The  Countess  of  Aberdeen  said  :  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  I  hojtc  you 
wiU  forgive  me  if  I  am  wilfully  disobedient ;  but  I  am  ali-aid  I  must  ask 
jH'rmission  to  be  so  to-day.  I  only  want  now  to  thank  you  vei-y  much 
for  the  gi-eat  kindness  you  have  done  me,  both  here  and  at  the  Convention. 
I  assure  you  that  I  feel  it  to  be  a  real  honour  to  have  been  allowed  to 
take  a  part,  however  small,  in  that  Convention.  It  has  been  a  very  great 
pleasure  to  Lord  Aberdeen  and  myself,  to  tliink  that  the  closing  gather- 
ing should  have  taken  place  in  these  grounds.  It  is  a  very  pleasant 
thing  for  us  to  think  that  old  friends  and  new  friends,  too,  should  have 
met  here  to  talk  over  the  memories  of  the  Convention  that  has  just  con- 
cluded.    And  wc,  I  assm-e  you,  join  with  you  in  praying  and  trusting 


382 


FurciwU  Mvrlai/j   t>f  llir   Bdajair 


that  tlioso  luemoricb  may  provo  a  blcised  inspiration  to  us  all  as  wc  go 
forth  once  more  to  our  Avork.     I  again  tliank  you. 

When  the  cheers  had  subsided,  the  noble  Earl  requested  his  guests 
to  join  hini  in  singing  "  Praise  G-od  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

Shortly  after  tlie  echo  of  the  last  strains  of  the  doxology  had  been  lost 
in  the  valley,  the  vast  company  reluctantly  quitted  the  grounds  of  their 
estimable  host,  recrossed  the  green  fields,  and  rctm-ned  to  London  by 
the  "  special "  just  au  hoiu'  before  sunset. 


APPENDIX, 


LIST   OF   1)EJ.EGATES 

Tl)   THE 

WORLD'S  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  CONVENTION. 


GEEAT   BRITAIN   AND   IRELAND. 

.  ,  „       T,  Chester  S.S.  U. 

Aiiams,  (jteo.  1' „     j    i      i 

.  ,,.  If.  Siindcii:iii«l       „ 

Aiulison,  .1.  u T>    If     1  ' 

Acer,  Richard  btrule    

f,    '  .    ,,r  Glasgow       „ 

Allen,  Francis  W •  => 

,,,        T,        T   T,  Wesleyan  Jleth. 

Allen,  Rev.  J.  B.     • ^j.^^^_  g_^^^,_ 

Allen,  Rev^Ym.Hersvood ....  WoodbridgeS.  S.  U. 

Andrews,  William  John  ...  Societv  of  Fnend. 

\pi)letou,  John  David -  •  ..•  „ 

•  ^  '    ^  ,  Friends  1st  Day  S.  S.  Association 

Armatage,  George, iiiluu:.!  j  o   o   it 

.   ,  ,       r>  L  T  Wesleyan  Meth.  b.  b.  U. 

Ashley,  Ruscombe  J ^^^^^^^       ^^ 

Ashmead  F   D ■    ^^^^^^_^       ^^ 

^^^^°"'  ^f'' .  Blackburn       „ 

Aspin,  Robert         •••••  ^^ 

Atyeo,  \  mcent  VV  m "'^      S  S  U.* 

Averv,  J.  Jun ' ,,  ^. 

^'  „    T  ..  Weslevan  Meth.       „ 

Ayre.Rev.G   J ....  ji.whester      - 

Bailey,  Charles..    _   ^  ^^ 

Ballantyne,  Daniel    ^^^.^^.^       ^^ 

Banbury,  John S  S  U. 

Barnard,  J i'l     i  i'  ..„ 

'        ,,    ..,  Blackburn       „ 

Baron,  John  binitli ,, 

_      , '      ,,-  Cotswold       „ 

Bartlett,  Wni S   S  U. 

Beatty,  Martin -^^    '  ^^ 

Beaty,  James  -         ^^^^^^       ^^ 

Beaumont,  E 

.  A\T.ere  the  letters  S.  S.  U.  only  occnr.  it  mnst  be  nndersUK-d  that  the  delegate 

repre^rei^her  the  Sunday  School  Union  Conxmittee.  66.  Old  Bailey.  London,  or  one 

of  its  Metropolitan  Auxiliaries. 


384  Appendix. 

Beecroft,  Samuel Nottingham  S.  S.  U. 

Belsey,  F.  F S.  S.  U. 

Benliam,  T „ 

Bennett,  Thomas  H Derliy       „ 

Berry,  J.  M Mcrthyr  Tydfil       „ 

Bewers,  Wm Barking       ,, 

Binns,  W S.  S.  U. 

Blake,  J.  W.,  C.C Gosport       „ 

Blumer,  John  Sunderland       ,, 

Bowra,  Charles  Tlios Wesleyan  Meth.       ,, 

Boyd,  John  A S.  S.  U. 

Bridges,  Joseph ,, 

Briscoe,  Eev.  J.  T „ 

Broomhall,  Mrs.  B China  Inland  Mission. 

Broomhall,  B ,,  ,, 

Broxap,  John    Wesleyan  Meth.  S.  S.  U. 

Bruce,  Eev.  William  Free  Ch.  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee 

Bryce,  Peter  B Glasgow  S.  S.  U. 

Brydeu,  Robert  ,,  ,, 

Buck,  F.  W Sutton-in-Ashfield       „ 

Bull,  George S.  S.  U. 

Burchfield,  T „ 

Burgess,  Henry  T ,, 

Burt,  C „ 

Busby,  F.  W „ 

Butcher,  Richard  Bury       ,, 

Buttfield,  J.  J S.  S.  U, 

Button,  Eev.  H.  G West  Herts       „ 

Cakebread,  G Haverhill       „ 

Callender,  Hugh  W S.  S.  U. 

Carlisle,  D Wesleyan  Meth.       ,, 

Carruthers,  G Bedford       ,, 

Carter,  Thomas  Bervvick-on-Tweed       ,, 

Cass,  John Barnsley       ,, 

Castle,  James     S.  S.  CT. 

Chambers,  J „ 

Chapman,  A ,, 

Chapman,  G.  B ,, 

(Jhapman,  J Frome       „ 

(Jhajipell,  James    S.  S.  U. 

Chappell,  Samuel Bristol       ,, 

Childs,  William Brighton       ,, 

Chippindale,  Richard  Blackburn       ,, 

Clark,  John  William  Lincoln       ,, 

Clark,  W Eyethorne       „ 

Clarke,  J Norwich       ,, 

Clarke,  Williana    Thame       „ 

Clay,  John Halifax       ,. 


List  of  Beletjalcs.  '  385 

Clements,  F S.  S.  U, 

Clokie,  Aid.  McDowall,  C.C Castleford 

Clokie,  J.T 

Collier,  Samuel  Jerominh  Reading       „ 

Colquhouu,  J S.  S.  U, 

Colthurst,  George  Edward  Taunton       ,, 

Comyn,  Chas.  A    S.  S.  U. 

Cook,  E.  A „ 

Cook,  Rev.  George  S ,, 

Cooper,  Arthur  J Salford  S.  S.  U, 

Cooper,  J.  A ,, 

Coote,  C.  N 

Cork,  S.  C , 

Coster,  Alfred Plymouth       ,, 

Couchman,  Edwin  R Rochester  and  Chatham       „ 

Cousins,  Rer.  George  London  Missionary  Society. 

Cox,  Thomas  A Maidstone  S.  S.  U. 

Co.Y,  T.  J S.  S.  U. 

Craig,  Rev.  James,  D.D Religious  Tract  Society. 

Crombie,  Rev.  Wm.  Edward  Prim.  Meth.  S.  S.  U. 

Crook,  Lewis  Thomas Lewes       „ 

Crosland,  F Huddersfield       „ 

Crowther,  J.  S S.  S.  U. 

Culverwell,  W „ 

Cutler,  Josiah Isle  of  Wight       „ 

Dakin,  Henry    S.  S.  U. 

Daniell,  J.  L Bristol       „ 

Davey,  Major  Thomas,  C.C Peterborough       „ 

Davis,  B.  R Yeovil       „ 

Dealey,  George Wesleyan  Meth. 

Denby,  H S.  S.  U. 

Deverell,  Philip  Henry Thame       „ 

Dewbury,  Chas.  J East  Herts       „ 

Dimmick,  Stephen Devonport       „ 

Dingle}-,  Alfred  Yeovil       „ 

Docwra,  Miss  Charlotte  Witham       „ 

Dudgeon,  John  Scott Ch.  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee. 

Dunstall   W Rochester  and  Chatham  S.  S.  U. 

Eddy,  Edward   Kidderminster       „ 

Eden,  F.  R S.  S.  U. 

Edmunds,  J i> 

Edwards,  W ,. 

Edwards,  Walter  N Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Ellis,  Caroline  H Huddersfield       „ 

Errington,  Roger Sunderland       „ 

Falkner,  Edward  S.  S.  U. 

Fenton,  Joseph  M Dewsbury       „ 

Ferguson,  Rev.  Joseph Prim.  Meth.       „ 

2  C 


386  Appendix, 

Firth,  S.,  F.R.H.S Leicester  S.  S.  U. 

Fish,  Thomas  Kidderminster       „ 

Ford,  G.  N Manchester       „ 

Foskett,  Robert   Wesleyau  Meth.       „ 

Fowle,  C Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

France,  W.  Scott  S.  S.  U. 

Freeman,  Wm Leicester       „ 

Friend,  Daniel  Brighton       „ 

Froud,  J.  W S.  S.  U. 

Fulford,  William  Sheffield       „ 

Gaukrodger,  Walter Huddersfield       „ 

Gaunt,  Harriet ,,  u 

Gibbs,  W.  I Wesloynn  Meth.       „ 

Gibson,  Rev.  James  Moth,  New  Conn.       „ 

Gilbert,  Edward  W Ipswich       „ 

Gilder,  George  J.  W S.  S.  U, 

Gill,  Richard Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Gittens,  H S.  S.  U. 

Gladwin,  James   Batley       „ 

Glover,  Rev.  Richard Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

Goodman,  Albert  Taunton  S.  S.  U. 

Gordon,  John  Isle  of  Sheppey       „ 

Gould,  J Bristol       „ 

Graham,  James  Hartlepool       „ 

Green,  Benjamin  Lepard  Manchester       ,, 

Greene,  Rev.  Thos.  R.,  A.B S.  S.  Society  for  Ireland. 

Gregory,  R Matlock  S.  S.  U. 

Griffin,  Colonel S.  S.  U, 

Griffiths,  J.  E Pembroke  Dock       „ 

Griffiths,  W.  J Shrewsbury       „ 

Grimwade,  John  Henry Ipswich       ,, 

Groser,  W.  H.,  B.Sc.  (Lend.)  S.  S.  U. 

Grout,  Joseph Ashford      ,, 

Gudridge,  Samuel  K Devonport       ,, 

Haigh,  Rev.  John Keigliley       ,, 

Hall,  William  Derby       „ 

Hammond,  James  C S.  S.  U. 

Harding,  Charles Wesleyan  Meth.       ,, 

Harding,  John  G S.  S.  U. 

Hardy,  John    Halifax       ,, 

Harris,  W Merthyr  Tydfil       „ 

Hartley,  F.  J S.  S.  U. 

Hartley,  Thomas   Rochdale       ,, 

Harvey,  John  Fowler Ashford       ,, 

Haward,  S.  E Tunbridge  Wells       „ 

Hawkes,  H S.  S.  U. 

Haynes,  W.  T Cambridgeshii'e       ,, 

Heberlet,  Percival  Edwin , General  Baptist  Missionary. 


T.Lt  (if  Di'hijdlra.  387 

Herbert,  C.  ' g  5   jj 

Heron,  Ernest  Tutor   Liverpool 

Hewitt,  Arthur g.  S.  U 

Hickling,  Chas.  A Eastbourne       „ 

Hill,  Abraham  WVsloyan  Mcth.       „ 

Hinds,  Edward  C 

Hinton,  L g  v;   ^ 

Hirst,  Miss  E Halifax       „ 

Holmec,  George Darlington       „ 

Holniou,  J.  T S  S   r 

Hooke,  Rev.  D.  Burford  Flintshire 

Hooper,  C g  g    (• 

Hope,  Thomas  R gouth  Surrey       „ 

Hopkins,  Joseph  George Birmingham 

Horton,  Thos South  Devon 

Howatt,  James Glasgow 

Howes,  James Wesleyan  Mcth.       „ 

Hudson,  Frank  West  Kent 

Hume,  Thos g   j^    j- 

Humphrey,  Joseph  Mayue Burton-on-Tront 

Humphreys,  E.  Noel  Chester       ,, 

Hunt,  Rev.  Thomas  H Prim.  Meth. 

Imrie,  David  N Ch.  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee 

Innocent,  C.  J Sheffield  S.  S.  L'. 

Jenkins,  F.  A Bristol       „ 

Jennings,  Reginald  West  Hants       „ 

Johnson,  Wra.  J g_  g_  [j 

Jones,  Alfred  HastSurrey       ,, 

Jones,  Rev.  John  Laudels  West  Northamptonshire       „ 

Jones,  William   Newport,  Mou.       ,, 

Jones,  Wm.  M Tunbridge  Wells       ,, 

Jull,  John Beult      ,, 

Keeble,  W.  T Ipswich       „ 

Keen,  Rev.  John  Osborne,  D.D Bible  Christian  Missy.  S.ir. 

Kelly,  Rev.  CharlcB  H Wesleyan  Meth.  S.  S.  U. 

Kemp,  George    S.  S.  ['. 

Kennedy,  Henry    g.  g.  [■. 

Kinnaird,  Loi'd President.       ,, 

Knight,  Samuel  Herbert   Langport       ,, 

Knight,  Wm.  Edward   Newark       ,, 

Knowles,  Samuel Lancashire,  Cheshire  and  Derbyshire  Association. 

Lancaster,  John Liverpool  S.  S.  I'. 

Lance,  W.  H S.  S.  U. 

Lawson,  T „ 

Laycock,  John  Kcighley       ,, 

Lee,  Henry  Thos Hartlepool       ., 

Lewarn,  George  Plymouth       ,, 

Lewis,  J.  G S.  S.  I", 

2  c  2 


388  AirpcndLi'.. 

Lewis,  Thos '^^est  Kent  S.  S.  U. 

Lewis,  W.  H S.  S.  U. 

Lodge,  Wesley  Batley       „ 

Longbottora,  B Louth       „ 

Lougbottom,  Councillor U.  M.  F.  C.  Home  and  Foreign  Missions. 

Lovltt,  Rev.  Richard Religious  Tract  Society. 

Macallan,  Rev.  W.  A Norwich  S.  S.  U, 

Macgowan,  John London  Missionary  Society. 

Macnair,  James  Glasgow  S.  S.  U. 

Madder,  Chas.  S Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Marshall,  Henry  Dickon  Hull       „ 

Martin,  Rev.  Arthur    Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Martin,  Wm.  Beavan  Isle  of  Wight       „ 

Mawson,  Henry  T Southport       „ 

May,  David  T Bristol       „ 

Meadows,  Wm Kettering       „ 

Meadows,  Mrs.  W „  ., 

Meir  W.  H Sutton-in-Ashfield       ,, 

Middlebrook,  Thos Shipley       „ 

Milburn,  Thos Newcastle-on-Tyne       „ 

Miles,  Alfred  H S.  S.  U. 

Millar,  W.  H .. 

Milsom,  Wm.  Griffith Reading  S.  S.  U. 

Mitchell,  Thos.  William  Judge Rochester  and  Chatham       ,, 

Moore,  Isaac   Bedford       ,, 

Morrish,  Charles Lewes       „ 

Morrish,  F.  J N-^i't^i  Devon      „ 

Mouutcastle,  J.  E S.  S.  U. 

Neal,  John  Henry Bradford       „ 

Nichols,  Geo.  H Hull       „ 

Nicholson,  W S.  S.  U. 

Norbury,  J.  C Manchester       „ 

Norris,  E S.  S.  U. 

Norton,  Samuel  Gloucester       „ 

Oldtield,  John  Gaythorp Whitehaven       „ 

Oldtield,  Mrs Whitehaven 

Oldroyd,  Mark,  M.P Dewsbury       „ 

Pa<ldow,  Edward South  Devon       „ 

Parker,  Henry  R S.  S.  U. 

Parker,  Thomas  Nottingham       „ 

Parkinson,  C.  W.,  L.C.C S.  S.  U. 

Parlane,  James Scottish  National  S.  S.  Committee. 

Panis,  Benjamin  T West  Herts  S.  S.  U. 

Payne,  G South  Surrey       ,, 

Payne,  George  J S.  S.  U. 

Pearson,  A.  R Meth.  New  Conn.       „ 

Pegg,  Arthur  J Derby      „ 

Phillips,  Joseph,  Jun. Colchester       „ 


Lists  of  Jklr,/<(le.  089 

Piggott,  Will.  EJwiu  North  Dovou  S.  S.  U. 

Piper,  Edwin  .lames Slircwsbury       ,, 

Pollard,  Joliii Yorkshire  Association. 

PoUitt,  Juiui l.aiu'ashin;,  Cliusliiro  and  Derl)ysliire  Associatiuii. 

Porter,  Alexander Manchester  S.  S.  L'. 

Poyuter,  E.  D S.  ij.  U. 

Price,  Walter  Worcester       ,, 

Pringle,  P .S.  S.  U 

Piillinger,  "William  Wallis Susse.x  Association. 

Purver,  Walter  J S.  S.  U. 

Kamsbottom,  James Uochdale       ,, 

Handles,  Rev.  M Wesleyan  Methodist  (Manchester  Dist.)       ,, 

Ransom,  William  C Pudsey       ,, 

Rawlings,  Edward  Religious  Tract  Society. 

Ueveley,  Albert ,,  ,, 

Richards,  M.  W S.  S.  U. 

Rickett,  William  Richard Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

Ridgwa}-,  Edward  Peacock  Salford  S.  S.  L'. 

Robertson,  Joseph  C Free  Church  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee. 

Robinson,  James,  F.R.H.S Leicester  S.  S.  U. 

Robinson,  W.  T S-  S.  U. 

Robottom,  C y.  >'>•  LI- 

Roe,  Benjamin   liast  Sutfolk       ,, 

Rogers,  Sarah  Ann  Bedford       ,, 

Rood,  S.  .1 S.  S.  L'. 

Rothery,  W „ 

Rowe,  T > 

Russell,  Miss  C.  F East  Herts       „ 

Russell,  W.  T S.  S.  I'. 

Ruston,  Rev.  T West  Northamptonshire       „ 

Rutherford,  Rosa  Sunderland       „ 

Rutherford,'!" n  i- 

Sack,  Alfred  S.  S.  U. 

Saunders,  John  C.  H Wesleyan  Meth.  S.  S    'J. 

Saunders,  Miss  A n  " 

Sawyer,  George  David  Brighton  S.  S.  U. 

Scott,  Thomas Paisley       „ 

Scott,  William  G Workington 

Scowby,  Rev.  Thomas Meth.  New  Conn.       „ 

Senior,  John Shipley       „ 

Sheppard,  James  C Wesleyan  Meth. 

Sherrard,  James  Corry Ragged  School  Union. 

Shipway,  George Birmingham  S.  S.  U. 

Sinclair,  Alfred Rochester  and  Chatham       ,, 

Sindall,  A S.  S.  U. 

Sivil,  G 5th  P.  Meth.  Circuit  Sheffield. 

Slack,  Edward Matlock  S.  S.  U. 

Slade,  Mr>.  Lydia  Frances I^ecds       „ 


390  Aj^i^endix. 

Sl:i(k>,  Robert  Leeds  S.  S.  U. 

Slade,  Eobert Vorkshire  Association. 

tiligh,  Robert    Birkenhead  S.  S.  U. 

.Smith,  Andrew Scottish  National  S.  S.  Committee. 

Smith,  Ebenezer  Liverpool  S.  S.  U. 

Smith,  Frederick  E Lincoln       ,, 

Smith,  Rev.  F.  J Meth.  New  Conn.       „ 

Smith,  G.  M Gloucester       ,, 

Smith,  J.  Milton  S.  S.  U. 

Smith,  J.  TurnbuU  Ch.  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee. 

Smith,  John  W Boston  S.  S.  U. 

Smith,  Kenred Cambridgeshire       „ 

Smith,  Robert  Mason Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Smith,  Thomas S.  S.  U. 

Smith,  Thomas  B Pontypool         ,, 

Smith,  Mrs.  Walter  Leeds       „ 

Snowdon,  Thomas  G Newcastle- on-Tyne       ,, 

Sorrell,  J.  Edward  S.  S.  U. 

Spiers,  Josiah    Children's  Specral  Service  Mission. 

Spinks,  J S.  S.  U. 

Stedman,  F.  J „ 

Stephens,  David Haverhill       ,, 

Stephens,  James  Horton Sussex  Association. 

Stevenson,  Aid.  George,  J.P Leicester  S.  S.  U. 

Stevenson,  William  Henry  North  Shields       „ 

Stewart,  Mark  J.,  M.P Ch.  Scotland  S.  S.  Committee. 

Stokes,  Charles  Thomas  Beult  S.  S.  U. 

Stone,  Frederick Cambridgeshire       „ 

Storey,  J.  C Hull       „ 

Stott,  Mrs China  Inland  Mission. 

Strange,  Nevill  Eastbourne  S.  S.  U. 

Straw,  William Nottingham       „ 

Stuart,  Robert  I S.  S.  U. 

Suildards,  William , Yorkshire  Association. 

Sumner,  John  Thomas    Portsea  Island  S.  S.  U. 

Tarvcr,  Wm Prim.  Meth.       „ 

Taylor,  Eva  E Stowmarket       ,, 

Taylor,  Sarah Bedford      ,, 

Taylor,  T S.  S.  U. 

Taylor,  Wm.  J j  „ 

Taylor,  Wm.  T „ 

Teasdale,  Isaac , Carlisle       „ 

Teller,  Herbert Huddersfield       ,, 

Terry,  Darley  , Dewsbury       ,, 

Thomas,  E Bradford     „ 

Tillett,  J Twickenham      „ 

Tilly,  Miss    South  Bucks       ,, 

Tomk  US,  Rev.  W.  J , ..Rushden       „ 


LiKt  nf  Delegates.  391 

Toouo,  S S.  S.  U. 

Torrance,  A.  !M.,  L.C.C , 

Towers,  E ,, 

Towneiul,  W.  G Middletou       ,, 

Tresiilder,  J.  E S.  S.  U 

Trevor,  Henry  Norwich       ,, 

Tucker,  R , 

Tuley,  John  Yorkshire  Association. 

Underhill,  Edward  B.,  LL.D Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

Vickers,  Benjamin  Lincoln  S.  S.  U, 

Verrall,  G.  C South  Bucks       „ 

Wakelin,  T.  L S.  S.  II 

Walton,  Chas.  W „ 

Walton,  Joseph  J Hull       „ 

^Vard,  John Boston       ,, 

Warraiugton,  F.  W S.  S.  U. 

Waters,  C , 

Watkinson,  J.  E Pudsey       ,, 

Watsou,  J.  G Newcastle-on-Tyne       ,, 

Watson,  S S.  S.  U. 

Watts,  Kev.  James  C,  D.D Meth.  New  Conn.       „ 

Weatherall,  Henry  West  Hartlepool       „ 

Weatherill,  Rev.  John  Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Weatherill,  Alderman  T „  „ 

Webb,  Rev.  Henry Bradford       „ 

Wells,  J S.  S.  U. 

Wells,  R , 

Whittaker,  Rev.  Thomas Prim.  Meth.       „ 

Whitworth,  John Meth.  New  Conn.       „ 

Whorlow,  G.  G Sudbury       „ 

Wigner,  Rev.  J.  T Baptist  Union. 

Wilkinson,  John Bradford  S.  S.  U. 

Willett,  Wm.  Butterworth Salford       „ 

Williams,  William  L East  Surrey       „ 

Williams,  Rev.  J.  P Portsea  Island       „ 

Wilson,  Mrs.  Sarah  J Exeter       „ 

Wilson,  Thomas    „  » 

Winterbottom,  George Whitehaven       „ 

Woodford,  James  Henry   Newport,  Mon.       „ 

Wood,  Francis Sheffield       „ 

Wood,  P.  F Wesleyan  Meth.       „ 

Woolby,  Eliza Stowniarket       „ 

Wright,  J.  W S.  S.  U. 

Wrio-ht,  L.  J 4th  Prim.  Meth.  Circuit,  Manchester. 

Wright,  T.  A Isle  of  Wight  S.  S.  U. 

Young,  H.F Loughborough      „ 


392  A])pendiX,i 


BEiTISH  COLONIES  AND  DEPENDENCIES. 

CANADA. 

Allen,  Miss..... Toronto,    Ontario. 

Barr,  Mr.,  M.D ,,  „ 

Barr,  Mrs „  „ 

Barker,  Miss Whitby,         „ 

Bates,  Joseph  J Woodstock,    „ 

Bates,  Mrs.  J.  J ,,  ,, 

Bowslough,  J.  B Grimsby,        ,, 

Brophy,  F Brantford,      ,, 

Calvert,  James     York  Mills,  Quebec. 

Carter,  Stewart  J „  ,, 

Couzecs,  Rev.  C.  C London,    Ontario. 

Cox,  Henry  Burford,         „ 

Eaton,  Mrs Whitby,         ,, 

Flint,  Mrs.  A.  B 

Galbraith,  Miss    ,, 

Galley,  Edward    Toronto,         ,, 

Galley,  Mrs.  Edward „  „ 

Gamble,  Miss  „  ,, 

Gault,  Miss  Florence  Montreal,  Quebec, 

George,  Rev.  Joseph  H.,  M.A.,  Ph.D Belleville,  Ontario. 

Graham,  Dugald,  B.C.L.,  LL.B Montreal,  Quebec. 

Graham,  Mi-s.  Dugald ,,  ,, 

Gunn,  Miss  Kate Toronto,  Ontario. 

Hall,E.  A.,  M.D Paisley, 

Hare,  Rev.  J.  J.,  Ph.D Whitby,  „ 

Hare,  Mrs.  J.  J „  „ 

Johnson,  W Belleville,      „ 

Johnson,  W.  F Toronto,         „ 

Magee,  Miss  B „ 

Magee,  Miss  J ,, 

Marling,  Rev.  Francis  H Montreal,  Quebec. 

Massey,  H.  A , Toronto,  Ontario. 

Massey,  Miss  L.  F „  „ 

McKillican,  Rev.  John   Montreal,  Quebec. 

McKechnie,  L.  N Paisley,    Ontario. 

McLaughlin,  Rev.  Ales Sherwood,  York  Co., 

McLean,  Daniel  Toronto, 

McMichael,  Miss 

McNab,  James     , Toronto, 

Millar,  James Thorold, 

Noxon,  Mrs.  S Whitby, 

Robertson,  B.  W Kingston, 

Rowan  Mr Harvey, 


List  of  Dclcgalcs.  393 

Saunders,  Miss  A Ontario. 

Snell,  J.  C Diampton,     ,, 

Steele,  Mrs.  H.  G Toronto,  ,, 

Tillson,  E.  D 

Tillson,  Mrs 

Wakefield,  Mrs.  J 

Wakefield,  Miss  

Wakefield,  Miss  Rose ,, 

Wilson,  Mrs.  C.  S Whitby, 

Wilson,  Miss  L ,,  ,, 

Withrow,  W.  H.,  D.D Toronto, 

Withrow,  Mrs „  „ 

NOVA   SCOTIA. 

Dawson,  C.  M Truro. 

Evans,  Rev.  W.  H Oxford. 

Gordon,  Rev.  D.  M Halifax. 

Jordan,  Rev.  Arthur  W.,  B.D ,, 

King,  Edwin  D.,  Q.C 

Bobbins,  Rev.  J Truro. 

NEW  BRUNSWICK. 

Eoyer,  James  W Victoria  Corner. 

Harvey,  Miss  Janic  Frcdericton. 

Kilburn,  Benjamin Kilburn,  Victoria  Co. 

Lucas,  Rev.  Aquila    Sussex. 

Lucas,  Mi-s.  Hattie  J n 

Parsons,  Samuel  J Benton. 

Rutherford,  John     Twcedsidt. 

BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 
Williams,  Mrs British  Columli.r 

INDIA. 

Miller,  William Cuttack.Orissn. 

Mody,  M.  H Bombay. 

AUSTRALASIA. 

Cribb,  W.  A Brisbane. 

Hill,  John  Drake North  Adelaide,  South  Australia. 

Hitchcock,  George  M Geclong,  Victoria. 

Livinston,  Neil Darlington,  Sydney,  N.S.W. 

Pepper,  Rev.  Thomas  J Queensland. 

Richardson,  Charles  John Melbourne,  Victoria. 

Strongman,  Alfred  Martin    „  n 

Williams,  James >>  n 

Young,  William  Vicars  Ipswich,  Queensland. 


394  Ajij'X'iif^i^- 


WEST   INDIES. 

Eowrey,  James  John  Kingston,  Jamaica. 

Heath,  Rev.  G.  0 Barbadoes. 

Nowell,  Thomas St.  John's,  Antigua, 


CHINA. 

r.romhall,  W.  E '2  Eyland  Street,  London,  England, 

Eromhall,  Mrs ,, 


GERMANY. 

BernstorfF,  Count  Andreas  \-ou    f)  Eauchstrasse,  Berlin,  W. 

Fetzer,  J.  George  Hamburg,  Horn, 

Heinmiiller,  G Reutlingen,  Wiirttemberg, 

Naundor£f,  B Uslar.  Prov.  Hannover. 

Eeichman,  Max Zerbst  (Anhalt). 

Eohrbach,  Julius 58  Breraer-strasse,  Berlin- 


FEANCE, 

iVnderson,  A.  Archibald 9  Boulevard  de  Clichy,  Paris. 

(Ireig,  Charles  Edward 40  Boulevard  de  Reuilly,  Paris, 

Lelievre,  Matthieu,  D.D IG  Rue  Demours,  Paris, 

Sautter,  Louis 14  Aveniie  de  I'Alma,  Paris. 


SWITZERLAND  (FRENCH). 

Jaiilmes,  Charles Lausanne. 


HOLLAND. 

Fruyt,  G.  G.,  Jun Amsterdam. 

Heybrock,  J.  M „ 

Muller,  Dr.  P.  J Rotterdam. 


List  of  Dclegatea.  395 


DENMARK. 

IJssiujj,  Mrs.  M:iiy Vi^jl''))  Aarliiis 

I'ssiug,  Itev.  lleary,  Lie.  '['UriA  ., 


ITALY. 

Clarke,  Edward Casa  Alberto,  La  Spezzia 


SWEDEN. 

r>achinau,  A.  E Orebro. 

I'.ilm,  Augustus  (Palm  and  Stadling)  Stockholm. 


UNITED  STATES. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Tinker,  Rev.  W.  W I-os  Angeles. 

COLORADO. 

Adams,  KoUin  E Denver. 

Adams,  Mrs.  0.  S „ 

Ireland,  F.  W 

Loomis,  Almeda  E ,, 

I'ickell,  Miss  Dell   

CONNECTICUT. 

r.ill,  Benezet  Hough  Hockville. 

Coultas,  Rev.  Andrew  .T New  London. 

r.ordou,  William  A Daubury. 

Hazen,  Lucius  R Middletown. 

Miner,  Ralph  .1 ^'ew  Haven. 

Woodruff;  Rev.  Heury  C Black  Rock. 

DISTRICT  COLUMBIA. 

Bierer,  Everard,  Jun Washington. 

Brooks,  Rev.  Walter  H 1,127,  Twentieth  Street,  N.U.  „ 

Gregory,  John  M >> 

Gregory,  Mrs.  J.  M i» 


396  A])]peudix. 

Jloore,  Ruv.  Geo.  W Washington. 

Phillips,  Rev.  C.  H.,  A.M.,  M.D Israel  C.  M.  E.  Ch. 

Wight,  John  B Kendall  Green,  „ 

Wight,  Mrs.  John  B 


FLOEIDA. 
Morgan,  Harvvood Jacksonville. 


GEORGIA. 

Dimniock,  Thos.  W Carrollton. 

Harris,  W.  H Fort  Nelly. 

Hopkins,  Isaac  S Atlanta. 

Lee,  Rev.  J.  W 10,  West  Peters. 

Speer,  M Aniericus. 

Speer,  Carrie „ 


ILLINOIS. 

Allen,  Mrs.  Amanda  D Harristown. 

Anderson,  Jacob  C Thawville. 

Arms,  J.  D Monmouth. 

Armstrong,  William  Hallsville. 

Bidwell,  0.  B Freeport. 

Bidwell,  Miss  0.  B „ 

Bradley,  Rev.  Charles  F.,  D.D Evanston. 

Bi'ouse,  Olin  R Rockford. 

Brunner,  Miss  Nellie  E Alton. 

Burhans,  James  A 113,  Dearborn  Street,  Chicago. 

Caldwell,  Mr.  J.  W Alton. 

Chick,  John  J Rockford. 

Clark,  Herbert  H Mendota. 

Farwell,  John  V Chicago. 

Farwell,  Miss  Jeannie  G „ 

Cassette,  Norman  T ,, 

Hale,  Fred  M Rockford. 

Hill,  Dr.  F.  K 

Hill,  Mrs.  W 

Hinkle,  Benson  C Mattoon. 

Jacobs,  B.  F Chicago. 

Jacobs,  Mrs.  B.  F ,, 

Jacobs,  Miss  Mamie    „ 

Jacobs,  W.  B „ 

McDowell,  William  J Box  1,303  P.  0.,  Joliet. 

McDowell,  Walker  ,,  ,, 

Montgomery,  G.   B Rushville. 

Morrow,  George  Espy    Champaign. 

Morrow,  Mrs.  G.  E „ 


lisi  of  Drlrrfntcs.  397 

-,    ,,  ji  r  Cliicnjo. 

Northrup,  B.  G 

Korlhnn.,  Blaurlio " 

„     ,         w  Menanl. 

Parker,  W 

.,       ,,      w   u  (  lintoii. 

Kiindle,  W.  li 

Ruudle,  Miss  Nellie  P " 

T>        Mr    T.„,„,i,,n  KauKaKCC. 

SiiiiJers,  Kev.  W.  LaugJou 

Snnders,  Mis.  W.  L 

.,         D        I    n  n  lilooiuiuglon. 

Shaw,  Rev.  J.,  U.U » 

,,,  ,ir   n  Lnica<io. 

Shore r,  W.  G .' 

,       ...         ,,  r-  UOCKlDrU. 

Smith,  Abram  h 

Swift,  Rev.  P.  H.,  Ph.D " 

,  ,      o  Lacoii. 

Ihompson,  John  o 

Thomiison,  Mrs.  John  S " 

WiKU-r,  Rev.  C.    N Chann.a.gn. 

IOWA. 

^  ry       T?   r  Coggon. 

Beyer,  Rev.  E.  G »= 

•'  c.  1       n  Cliiitoli. 

Bronsou,  Solon  t 

„  ,      ,,       T^   ixr  Le  Mars. 

F.ihs,  Rev.  D.  W 

,.     ,        „       r.   \\r  Gnnnol. 

Hughes  Rev  R.W 

Knox,  Rev.  George    J 

M'Alister,  Rev.  John    

^       ,.  Osage. 

Mav,  Rev.  Eugene » 

- '     ^  Clinton. 

Gates,  James      .  u     „ 

,-,   Q  Emmetsburg. 

Ornisby,  E.  b 

Ormsby,  Mrs.  E.  S "  , 

Ormsbv,  Mary  A ','    ., 

''      „"^     u   -r,  Cedar  Rapids. 

Stevenson,  Rev.  E.  b 

'        „,   T>  Washington. 

Strvker,  Rev.  w.  h. -i  Tii„ff. 

-       '      „,  Council  Bluns. 

TuUeys,  L.  W 

Tulleys,  Mrs.  L  W.  •••••••  ^ii^„„'},„,tion. 

Watters   Rev.  a  H ^^.^^^^^ 

Young;,  John  B 

KANSAS. 

„  Abilene. 

Bright,  George  S 

Bright,  Rev.  J.  A ■•■■•■•     ;;^, 

Brown,  Benjani.n    ..  ^ -  •• ^^^^^-^ 

Chamberlain,  Humphrey  B Girard 

Cuvrer,  ReN.  John  •-"•_•  ^^^^^^^^ 

Dana,  Miriam  P. •- Lansing. 

Gamble   Howard....       .^..^ ••••    ■ ^^^^^^.^ 

Gob.n,  Rev.  Hilary  A.,  D.D McPherson. 

Heir,  Rev.  Horace  D ^^^^^^.^ 

Quayle,  Rev.  W   A ^^^^^^^^ 

Redden,  Alfred  L. 


398  A;p'pendix. 

Redden,  Joseph  W Topelca. 

Redden,  Mrs.  Emma  L ,, 

Redden,  Miss  Ruth ,, 

Redden,  Miss  Lee    ,, 

St.  John,  Rev.  Charles  H Beloit. 

St.  John,  Mrs.  Eugenia  F „ 

Thomas,  R.  D Emporia, 

KENTUCKY. 

Bickley,  Rev.  F.D.  T 113,  West  3rd  Street,  Lexington 

Bowers,  Rev.  E.  L Oweusboro, 

Collins,  Lewis^   Louisville. 

Duncan,  C.  H Glencoe. 

Rice,  Miss  Pearl Greenville, 

Watson,  Rev,  Benj.  T Princotown. 


LOUISVILLE. 
Mackie,  E.  V Now  Orleans 


MAINE. 

Crane,  Rev.  Charles  D New  Castle. 

Daggett,  W.  L Strong. 

Hack,  Rev.  Rollin  T Belfost, 

Illsley,  G.  B Bangor.' 

Lewis,  Rev.  George South  Berwick. 

Snow,  Rev.  B.  P Willard. 

Webb,  LiudleyM Portland. 

White,  Rev.  Theo,  F Bath, 


IMAllYLAND. 

Eagby,  C.  T Baltimore. 

Cassard,  Louis,  Jun ^^ 

Cassard,  Mrs.  Louis,  Jun ^^ 

Dixon,  Rev.  A.  C 2,400,  St.  Paul  St.,  Baltimore. 

Duncan,  N.  S 1,411,  W.  Lanvale  St.     „ 

Harris,  Rev.  William,  D.D , Baltimore. 

Harris,  Florence  J ^^ 

M'Carter,  Ales ,, 

Pollard,  James    ^^ 

Pollard,  Lulu  R 

Pollard,  Mrs.  S.  T ,, 

Seaton,  Rev.  Daniel  P 249,  West  Biddle  St.,  Baltimore. 

Shirk,  Rev.  Henry,  Jun Baltimore. 

Sitler,  Rebecca    G.  12,  Edmonson  Avenue,  Baltimore 

Stinson,  Edward Baltimore. 


Lis!  oj  JJclcijulea.  309 

Thomas,  Jucol)  B 7.;'.i.  N'mtli  Avpiuic,  iLilliinorc. 

Thomas,  Mrs.  Jacoli  i; i,  ^^ 

Wliarton,  Rev.  H.  M llaltimorf. 

Voiin?,  Kev.  Ali)lioiisr    Marysville. 


MASSACflUSETTS. 

Bassctt,  Rev.  Austin  \i Williamsttiuii. 

Brighum,  Rev.  D.  H SprinsficM. 

Browu,  J.  G Cambridge. 

Chase,  Mrs.  Isaac  47,  Trowbridge  .St.,  Cambridge. 

Creegau,  Rev.  C.  C,  D.D Boston. 

Chenery,  Miss  Hattie  M 0^,  Chaudler  St.,  Boston. 

Corse,  Mrs.  Georgie  M Jlaldi.'u. 

Gushing,  Rev.  John  11.,  A.JI Wilbraham. 

Dumnier,  .Joseph  N Rowley. 

Edwards,  Sarah  S llavcrliill. 

Edwards,  Addie  E Bradford. 

Folsora,  Mrs.  Mary  T Roxbury. 

Farwell,  Miss  Jennie  S Auburndalc. 

Oilman,  Francis  B Cambridge. 

Gleasou,  Albert  N Rock  Bottom. 

Harlow,  Annie  S Lowell. 

Hartshorn,  W.  N Boston. 

Hood,  Mrs.  Eliza  P oG,  Bartlett  St.,  Roxbury. 

Merriam,  Ida  A Boston. 

Millard,  Minna  W North  Adams. 

Ordway,  Fanny  B Dorchester,  Boston. 

Ordway,  Louisa  M ,,  ,, 

Pratt,  Stillman  B Marlboro. 

Pratt,  Ihs.  Ellen  I^I , 

Peloubet,  Rev.  Francis  X.,  I). I) Natick. 

Perry,  Rev.  H.  Francis  Hudson. 

Richardson,  Miss  H.  A 4J,  Trowbridge  St.,  Cambridge. 

Richmond,  Mrs.  C.  (j Kurth  Adam.->. 

Richmond,  Mrs.  M.  F ,, 

Russell,  Miss  Jean  Kewton. 

Russell,  Mrs.  Harriet  S Lynufield  Centre. 

Smallwood,  Rev.  John  J Wilbrahani. 

Sampson,  C.  T North  Adams. 

Sampson,  Mrs.  C.  T ,, 

Sargent,  M.  Perry  Mcrrimac. 

Smith,  Johh  Wm Boston. 

Shurtleff,  Rev.  David Westfield. 

Solley,  Geo.  W School  for  Christian  Workers,  Springfield. 

Taylor,  Rev.  Elwyn  0 Billerica. 

Thompson,  John  S Lacon. 

Ull'ord,  Rev.  E.  S Hingham. 


400  A'ppendix. 

Wiiislow,  Belle  M 117,  School  St.,  Roxbury 

Wethpi-ell,  Mrs.  A.  J North  Adams. 

Whitman,  Mrs.  W.  H » 

Wilkinson,  E.  S >> 

Wilkinson,  Mrs.  E.  S .. 

Wilkinson,  Eddie    » 

MICHIGAN. 

Abbott,  Robert  S East  Saginaw. 

Abbott,  Mrs.  Robert  S „ 

Adams,  Charles  E Detroit. 

Brooks,  Rev.  Edward  H Grand  Rapids. 

Cowell,  E.  R.  E „ 

Hough,  Edward  A Jackson. 

Hough,  Mrs.  Edward  A „ 

Hunsberger,  Rev.  Wesley  S Coldwater. 

Keeler,  William  Henry  Saginaw. 

Keeler,  Mrs.  Wm.  H „ 

IMorey,  Rev.  Heury  A Marshall. 

Myers,  Miss  Kate    East  Saginaw. 

Parsons,  George Watervleit. 

Parsons,  Mrs.  George „ 

Parsons,  Rev.  Willis  E Albion. 

Parsons,  Mrs.  Willis  E „ 

Peters,  Mrs.  R.  G Manistee. 

Wiggins,  George  B East  Saginaw. 

Wright,  Edward  L Hancock. 

Wright,  Mrs.  Edward  L „ 

MINNESOTA. 

Bassett,  Miss  Emma  M Minneapolis, 

Blake,  Miss  Clara  J „ 

Blake,  John  D „ 

Bonner,  Miss  M.  Alsadie     ,, 

Case,  Emma  A Faribault. 

Follett,  Mrs.  Lillia  M Brainerd. 

Gale,  Mrs.  Ruby  Cowles     Faribault. 

MacLaurin,  Rev.  Ronald  D Minneapolis. 

Peterson,  Rev.  Frank ,, 

Smith,  Boston  W ,, 

Sunderl?ind,  Rev.  James ,, 

Sunderland,  Mrs.  James „ 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Beers,  Professor  J.  D Blue  Mountain. 

Oakley,  Joseph  Sykes Columbus. 

White,  Stephen  Natchez, 


Lixt    nf   fh-lr./dli'S.  401 


MISSOURI. 

C.-ildwcll,  Professor  A.  .1 St.  Louis, 

Caldwell,  ilrs.  A.  J _ 

H;ill,  1''.  A Si>nnglicM. 

Marshall,  Rev.  Thomas i,i07,  Olive  St.,  St.  Louis, 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

liiiighani,  Professor  G.  "W DiTry. 

liinghain,  Jlrs.  G.  \V 

IJooth,  Samuel     I'-riiokhu 

Crawford,  E.  A i)()vi.'r. 

Dutton,  Kev.  John  M (Jreat  Falls 

l)utton,  Mrs.  Flor  M 

1<\)X,  Elleuridge  W Miltou  JliHs. 

French,  John  Brooklyn. 

Goodwin,  JLiiicl  L Groat  F.iHs 

Haiues,  P^ev,  James  li Dover. 

Haines,  Mrs.  J.  H 

Watson,  Albert    liami.slead. 

Wood,  Rev,  H,  F Dover. 

NEW   JERSEY. 

Clark,  Rev.  Samuel  W Paterson. 

Leach,  James   Park  Ridge. 

Leach,  Mrs.  Emily  ,, 

Mitchell,  Rev.  David  Jersey  City, 

Thompson,  Rev.  Isaac  5L  B Milburn, 

Thompson,  Jlrs.  I.  i\L  P' , 

NEW  YORK. 

Ciglow,  Lucius  H New  York  City, 

lilumc,  Frederick    ,,         „ 

Bordwell,  Miss  Lavinia  ,,         ,, 

Caldwell,  Thos Newburgh. 

Caldwell,  Henry  F „ 

Caldwell,  Harry ,, 

Cuthbertson,  Rev.  W.J Deer  River, 

Cuyler,  Rev.  Theodore  S.,  D.D Brooklyn, 

Demorest,  W.  Jennings  New  York  City, 

Doisley,  Edward  Ray  Brooklyn. 

French,  Frank  J New  York  City. 

Freshman,  Rev.  Jacob 17,  St.  Mark's  Place,  New  York. 

Ilaight,  Sarah  C Cazenovia. 

Hall,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  LL.D New  York  City 

Hubbard,  Heurv  W ,,         „ 

2  D 


402  Ajjpev.di.v. 

MacLean,  Mrs.  Samuel  E. Rye. 

MacLean,  Miss  Florence  H ,, 

MartiQ,  Charles  C Brooklyn. 

Martin,  Miss  Charlotte  A. ,, 

Matthews,  Wm Rye, 

Matthews,  Mrs.  W „ 

Matthews,  Miss ,, 

Mead   Eev.  J.  Calvin Caiiastota. 

Porter,  E.  Payson New  York  City 

Schaufiler,  Eev.  A.  P.,  D.D ,,         „ 

Sears,  William    Syracuse. 

Smith,  Eev.  George  E Campbell. 

Walters,  Eev.  Alexander    New  York  City. 

Wilkinson,  W.  H Binghampton. 

Wilkinson,  Mrs.  W.  H „ 

Wilkinson,  Miss  Aimio    ...,, „ 


NORTH   CAEOLINA. 

Alderman,  W.  P Greensboroug 

Blair,  William  A Winston. 

Davis,  John  C Wilmington. 

Goodwin,  Edward  McKee  Ealeigh. 

Snow,  H.  N Durham. 

Wall,  Henry  Clay Eockiugliam, 


OHIO. 

Anderson,  David  C Prankfort, 

Anderson,  Mrs.  David  C ,, 

Biggs,  Thomas     Elyria. 

Biggs,  Mrs.  Thomas    ,, 

Brockson,  John  Wm Clevckiud. 

Carson,  Eev.  Alex.  N.,  D.D Piqua. 

Chidlaw,  Eev.  B.  W.,  D.D Cleveland. 

Chidlav.',  Miss  J.  C „ 

Cooper,  Andrew  G Dayton. 

Cowden,  Eobert  Galion. 

Denman,  Ehoda  A Sidney. 

Evans,  Owen  H Marysville. 

Goodknight,  Eev.  J.  L Covington. 

Goodknight,  Mrs.  Ella  L „ 

Huntington,  Charles  L.  P Cincinnati. 

Lawrence,  Marion   Toledo. 

Laughlin,  Rev.  Edmund Ravenna. 

Loomis,  Bennet  J Jefferson. 

Loomis,  Mrs.  B.  J ,, 

Loomis.  Miss  Blabel  L 


/./V7   <;/    Del<',i(tlf<i.  40;} 

Raidabaugh,  Kev.  1'.  W i,:iir),  Madison  Avenue,  Clcvelaml. 

Read,  Rev.  Thaddeiis  (' Fostoria. 

Stone,  Mrs.  T.  II (Jeneva. 

Trowbridge,  D.  N Toledo. 

Tuclcermnu,  J South  New  Lyme. 

Tuckerman,  Jacob  

Ward,  Rev.  Philip  Jainos  Columbus. 

William,  George  C Ottawa. 

(OREGON. 

Loonej',  Jamcd  Pr.  B.,  IM.L Portland. 

Wheeler,  Rev.  E.  G 

Wheeler,  Mrs.  Edwin  G ,, 

TENNSYLVANIA. 

Beaver,  Gilbert  A Bellefont. 

Dixon,  Rev.  Joseph  K Philadelphia. 

Fergussou,  E.  Morris  ,, 

Gephart,  John Bellefont. 

Harding,  C.  H Philadelphia. 

Kessler,  George  C „ 

McClure,  Thomas  G Pittsburg. 

McKitrick,  Rev.  E.  S Alleghany  City. 

McKitrick,  Mrs.  E.  S ,, 

Miller,  Robert  J Pittsburg. 

Nettleton,  Franklin  E Scranton. 

Nettleton,  Mrs.  Marion  F ,, 

Riggs,  Mrs.  D.  W Alleghany  City. 

Tracy,  Rev.  Robert  Henry Ryerson's  Station. 

Watson,  Charles Scranton. 

Woodburn,  Rev.  B.  F Alleghany  City, 

Woodbiirn,  Mrs.  B.  F „ 

r.HODE  ISLAND. 

Allan,  John  B Pawtuckct. 

Anthony,  Noel  L Providence. 

Barnefield,  Hon.  T.  P Pawtuckct. 

Barney,  Mrs.  T.  K Providence. 

Blakeslee,  Rev.  F.  D 

Conant,  Hamilton  S >• 

Fraser,  David  S Pawtuckct. 

Gamwell,  William  A Providence. 

Holyoke,  Rev.  Edward n 

Holyoke,  Mrs.  Martha  D .. 

Randolph,  Rev.  Warren,  D.D Newport. 

Seabury,  T.  Mumford )i 

Stoddard,  Rev.  Walter  P Pascoag. 

2  D  3 


404  Apivmdix. 


SOUTH   CAEOLIXxV. 

Bulkley,  William  L Orangeburg. 

Pose}-,  Rev.  Jacob  Hartwell   u 

Scott,  Rev.  Cornelius  C Spartanburg. 


TENNESSEE. 
OlJen,  Rev.  Geo.  D Chattanooga. 

VERMONT. 

Babbitt,  Rev.  James  11 West  Battleboro 

Edwards,  Addie  E Burlington. 

Peters,  Rev.  W.  F West  Randolph, 

Smith,  Rev.  Azro  A Johnson. 

Smith,  Mrs.  A.  A , 

AIRGINIA. 

English,  Prof.  W.  0 Richmond. 

Pollard,  John  A'^irginia, 

Tabb,  Lucy Hampton. 

Wood,  T.  W Richmond. 

WISCONSIN. 

Coon,  Rev.  James  ]\I Whitewater. 

Edmunds,  Rev.  Edward  B Bever  Dam. 

Grinnell,  Rev.  S.  S Lancaster. 

IMorey,  Lewis  H Oshlvosh. 

Jlorgan,  R.  T ,, 


^[jljll  lllll.l 


■lo:. 


Sunday  School  Statistics  of  all  Nations, 

i.'oiiii)ik-.l  li.r  the  Worl.ls  Simil;iy  Si  liool  Ci.nv.iitiuu,  Loudon,  July,  1889. 

Fountain  J.  1!aiiti.f.t.  F.S.S.,  GU,  OM  It.iili'v,  I-omloii  /  r-,   ,■  .■     •  c       .      ■ 
K     I'VVM.N   l'..i:ii;i:,   llij,  linKi.lway.  N.'w   York.  (js.A  .  T  '"'"■"' '^'''■'''"''"'• 


!  Siiiiday 
I  Schools. 


Teucliers.    |     Schohiis. 


Europe. 

Englauil  and  AV'^alos 

Scotland 

Ireland 


Total  iiHMii- 
bcrsliip. 


I  35,983  010,911  I  5,733,325  I  0,350,200 
i  5,048  I  59,213  I  0.11,975  '  711, ISS 
'     3,313  I       2S,lo2  310,099  338,231 


Total  United  Kingdom     44,944       704,286 


140 

02 

300 

120 

1,200 

3,231 

1,471 

200 

250 

30 

23 

100 

3,350 

1,102 

105 

2,757 
150 

1         107 
I  00 

j     4,240 

Il01,824 
I     0,030 

314 

2,185 

I        550 
j        350 

;     4,719 

890 

1,474 

I         230 

'         210 


312 
180 

2,000 
800 

3,110 
20,240 

5,070 
850 

2,190 

100 

438 

400 

15,355 

5,459 

1,053 

5,744 
390 
440 
GOO 

8,455 

ll, 100, 104 
j      55,050 

2,102 
9,073 

j         1,300 
3,000 

j  35,295 
I  9,988 
I  2,700 
1  1,413 
800 


0,095,3iJ9     7,399,085 


Austria        

Belgium      

Denmark     

Finland       

France         

Germany     

Holland      

Italy     

Norway        

Portugal      

Ru.ssia  

Spain 

Sweden        

Switzerland 

Asia. 

China 

India,  including   Bur- 
mali  and  Ceylon     . . 

Japan  

I't-rsia 

Central  Turkey  . . 

Afuica. 

NoBTU  America, 
United  States     , .      , . 

Canada        

Newfoundland        and 

Labrador 
West  Indies 
Central   America,  and 

Mexico 

South  America. 

Oceania. 

Australia 

New  Zealand 
Fiji  Islands 
Hawaiian  Islands 
Olber  Islands     .. 

The  World 183,390    1,999,569  ;17, 710. 212    19,715,781 


4,519 

2,350 

35,000 

8,000 

50,000 

410,981 

152,000 

12,500 

25,000 

2,000 

0,007 

8,000 

222  727 

"silooo 

5,204 

110,270 
7,019 
4,870 
7,000 

161,394 

8,345,431 
467,292 

22,817 
110,233 

15,000 
150,000 

422,434 
99,884 
42,909 
15,840 
10,000 


4,831 

2,542 

37,000 

8.800 

.53,110 

431,221 

157,070 

13,410 

27,190 

2,100 

0,445 

8,400 

238,082 

89,4.";9 

6,317 

116,014 
7,409 
5,310 
7,000 

109,849 

9,445,535 
522,342 

24,979 
119,900 

1G,30U 
153,000 

457,729 

109.872 

45,009 

17,253 

10,800 


40G 


Ap]}cndlx. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  STATISTICS 

For  the  Uuited  St:ites  and  liritisli.Aniciicnn  Provinces.      A  Special  Canvass  for  the 
World's  Sunday  Scliuul  Couveutioii,  Loudon,  July,  IsSU. 

E.  Patson  Porter,  Statistical  Secretary,  195,  Broadway,  New  York. 


United  States. 

Sunda/ 
Schools. 

Teachers. 

Scholars. 

Total  mem- 
bership. 

Alabama     

3,048 

19,301 

158,126 

177,427 

Alaska  Territory 

14 

52 

1,100 

1,152 

Arizona  Territory     . . 

22 

222 

1,369 

1,591 

Arkansas     

1,712 

11,965 

94,305 

106,270 

California 

803 

7,863 

71,687 

79,550 

Colorado      

393 

3,088 

25,217 

28,305 

CONNECTICTJT 

1,071 

18,854 

142,346 

161,200 

Dakota         

801 

5,623 

30,818 

36,471 

Delaware 

217 

2,913 

22,700 

25,619 

District  of  Columbia 

177 

3,842 

34,968 

38,810 

Florida         

603 

4,043 

20,676 

30,719 

Georgia        

5,454 

31,749 

298,187 

329,930 

Idaho  Territory . . 

43 

396 

3,223 

3,019 

Illinois      

6,849 

76,202 

574,322 

650,524 

Indian  Territory 

222 

1,093 

8,586 

9,679 

Indiana      

4,951 

48,924 

371,382 

420,306 

Iowa 

5,112 

43,295 

319,128 

362,423 

Kansas         

3,544 

32,132 

214,422 

246,554 

Kentucky 

2,647 

31,606 

225,801 

257,407 

Louisiana 

522 

4,131 

32,617 

30,748 

Maine 

1,325 

11,625 

92,750 

104,375 

IMaryland 

2,390 

31,021 

253,003 

284,084 

IMassachusetts    . . 

1,790 

33,923 

237,593 

271,510 

Micbis^an 

3,300 

36,000 

264,000 

300,000 

Minnesota 

1,323 

12,321 

100,320 

112,641 

Mississippi 

1,614 

11,707 

84,077 

06,444 

Missouri      

3,055 

37,284 

280,922 

318,206 

Montana      

SO 

450 

4,200 

4,650 

Nebraska   • 

2,151 

19,450 

118,525 

137,975 

Nevada       

30 

812 

2,060 

2,872 

New  Hampshire 

519 

6,640 

49,335 

55,975 

New  Jersey 

1,996 

32,634 

246,267 

278,901 

New  Mexico  Territory 

45 

225 

1,345 

1,570 

New  York  

7,193 

108,272 

979,415 

1,087,687 

Noith  Carolina  . . 

4,197 

33,570 

197,937 

231,513 

Ohio 

6,753 

88,332 

619,499 

707,831 

( )regon         

290 

2,531 

20,749 

23,280 

Pennsylvania 

8,729 

123,484 

904,599 

1,088,083 

lUiode  Island 

300 

5,430 

44,570 

50,000 

South  Carolina  . . 

1,667 

13,054 

103,315 

116,369 

Tennessee 

3,840 

34,560 

249,600 

284,160 

Texas  ..      

3,097 

23,161 

190,625 

213,786 

Utah  Territory  . . 

93 

554 

6,741 

7,295 

Vermont      

609 

7,308 

53,473 

60,781 

Virginia      

3,652 

42,678 

277,781 

320,459 

Washington 

129 

921 

6,950 

7,871 

West  Virginia    .. 

1,888 

19,212 

120,811 

140,023 

Wisconsin 

1,610 

15,211 

114,869 

130,080 

Wyoming  Territory  . . 

54 

274 

2,424 

2,698 

Totals  United  States 

101,824 

1,100,104 

8,345,431 

9,445,535 

AppciiiH.i 


407 


(    A.SAIiA. 

.Suii.i.iy 

r.;a<- 

!•  T-. 

.Sciii.l.iis. 

!'•!  il  lilrm- 

'""'' '"■ 

!)C'r«hi|i. 

Oiilarii)         

.",;••;  I 

il7 

,S67 

320,013 

;;."is,-j.s() 

(v)iieljec         

<;7(; 

•I 

,137 

3i;,lS3 

•111,320 

Novii  Scotia 

SI  14 

i; 

i;ir, 

r)5,4.S7 

(;i,GS2 

Ni:w  Bkunswick 

SI.-, 

r, 

]}:; 

•li),irjs 

45,171 

Prince  Edward  Islaud 

IvS!) 

1 

,ti:ii 

;>,5r)4 

10,005 

Manitoba 

150 

GOO 

5,000 

5,  GOO 

British  Colnmbia 

11 

57 

427 

484 

Total        

6,636 

55 

,050 

407,292 

522,342 

Newfoundland  and  La- 

brador       

314 

2 

162 

22,817 

24,971) 

Totals  for  United) 
8ti\tGs    and    British^  108,774    1,157,310     8,835,540      9,902,850 
American  Provinces)  | 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  STATISTICS  OF  CITIES  IN  THE  UNITED 

STATES 

Containing  100,000  popnlation  and  over. 


Sunday 
,  Schools. 

Teacliers. 

Scholars. 

Total. 

ri)|)ula- 

tUlll. 

1  Albany 

67 

1,284 

16,408 

17,692 

100,000 

2  AlleixliiiuY 

65 

1,300 

11,700 

13,000 

110,000 

3  Baltimore 

383 

7,939 

!  76,790 

84,';  29 

416,805 

4  Boston 

131 

3,514 

'  31,475 

34,989 

410,000 

5  Brooklyn    .. 

2G3 

10,201 

i  97,033 

107,234 

805,855 

IJ  Buftalo       ..      .. 

127 

1,799 

,  30,428 

35 , 597 

242,000 

7  Chicago     .. 

2S6 

7,G2G 

'  85,516 

93,142 

850,000 

S  Cincinnati 

167 

3,417 

41,220 

44,637 

330,000 

i)  Cleveland.. 

105 

3,110 

29.000 

32,110 

250,000 

10  Denver      ..      .. 

47 

597 

5,880 

6,477 

100,000 

11  Detroit      ..      .. 

03 

2,181 

16,930 

19,120 

236,000 

12  IndianaiJolis 

,     100 

1,000 

18,000 

19,000 

125,000 

13  Jersey  Citv 

GS 

2,111 

19,937 

22,048 

185,000 

14  Kansas  City 

SO 

1,000 

16,000 

17,000 

200,000 

15  Loui.svillc 

137 

2,031 

10,442 

21,473 

200,000 

H;  ]\[il\vankee 

50 

1,283 

12,223 

13,.'506 

210,000 

17  Minneapolis 

147 

2,205 

31,550 

33,755 

247,000 

IS  Newark 

04 

3,006 

26,596 

29,602 

175,000 

I'J  New  Orlean.s     .. 

77 

924 

7,278 

8,202 

250,000 

20  New  Yorl: 

GOO 

15,000 

172,000 

187,000 

1,585,529 

21  Umalia       ..      .. 

58 

850 

7,950 

8,800 

110,000 

22  Philadelphia    .. 

CIO 

16,937 

181,865 

195,802 

1,100,000 

23  Pittsburg 

73 

1,810 

16,560 

18,400 

230,000 

24  Providence 

150 

2,715 

22,285 

25,000 

125,000 

25  Kochestcr 

7S 

2,356 

23,781 

20,137 

125,000 

2G  Sau  Francisco  .. 

75 

1,247 

11,316 

12,503 

320,000 

'J7  St.  Louis   .. 

229 

3,337 

36,694 

40,031 

450.000 

28  St.  Paul    .,      .. 

1       91 

92G 

10,240 

11,166 

200,000 

29  Toledo       ..      .. 

1       52 

1,157 

10,991 

12,148 

100,000 

30  Washington 

1     157 

3,611 

33,386 

36,897 

218,157 

408  Appendix. 


RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED   DURING  THE   MEETINGS  OF 
THE  WORLD'S  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  CONVENTION. 

The  Lesson  System. 
Hesoluiion  suhnitted  hi/  the  Delegates  on  hoard  the  S.S.  Bothnia. 

Mr.  B.  r,  Jacobs  {Chicago')  -.  The  executive  committee  have  re- 
ceived the  resolution  referred  to  them  by  the  Convention  concerning 
the  International  Lesson  System.  Omitting  part  of  a  sentence,  they 
have  reported  it  back.  That  omission  relates  to  the  number  of  yeai's. 
It  was  the  desh-e  of  the  committee  to  report  back  correctly  wliat 
would  be  entirely  agi-eed  to,  leaving  that  question  to  be  settled  in  tlie 
International  Lesson  Committee. 

Mr.  E.  Towers  (Secretary),  read  the  resolution. 

Hesolved — That  we  recognise  m  the  International  Uniform  Lesson 
Movement  the  onward  march  of  real  progress. 

The  rare  fidehty,  judgment,  and  success  with  which  the  lesson  com- 
mittee are  performing  a  task  of  great  difficulty,  gives  occasion  for 
profound  gratitude,  and  we  beheve  that  the  same  plan,  with  sucli 
modifications  as  experience  shall  direct,  may  be  contmued  with  growing 
acceptance  and  usefuhiess. 

We  are  glad  that  the  plan  embraces  the  study  of  the  whole  Eiblc, 
and  that  experience  has  shown  it  to  be  adapted  to  all  ages  and  classes. 

Among  the  results  of  its  ahnost  imiversal  adoption  in  Amei'ica,  we 
bring  testimony  to  the  following  : — 

1.  Interest  in  Bible  study  is  greatly  stin\ulatcd  among  young  and 
old  by  the  fact  that  so  many  minds  and  hearts  are,  at  the  same  time, 
occupied  with  the  same  truths. 

2.  The  movement  has  called  out  the  efforts  of  able  and  consecrated 
writers,  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  until  our  lesson-help  literature  ia 
marvellous  in  amount  and  richness. 

3.  It  is  proving  a  powerfid  iiistruuientality  for  promoting  umti/  and 
co-operation  among  Christians,  and  we  believe  that  its  adoption  through' 
out  Christendom  wdl  bring  untold  good  to  the  world. 

The  Hev.  F.  H.  Marling-  {3Iontreal)  also  presented  the  following 
resolution  adopted  by  a  full  meeting  of  the  Canadian  delegates  : — "  The 
representatives  of  Canadian  Sunday  schools  in  this  World's  Sunday 
School  Convention  beg  to  present  to  then'  assembled  brethren  what 
they  know  to  be  the  strong  and  united  conviction  of  their  constituents 
throughout  the  Dominion  in  relation  to  the  International  Uniform 
Lessons.  The  test  to  which  the  system  has  been  exposed  by  tlie 
experience  of  nearly  a  score  of  years  has  been  long  and  varied  enough 


lltaijluliuns  Atloj^iUd.  .iu'.i 

to  biiug  forth  iiliko  wlialfvi-r  merits  or  defects  it  iiuiy  possesH.  Our 
positive  ami  eiiiijliatic  testimouy  is  tlmt  it  ims  promoted,  to  nn  uiipre- 
eedoiited  degree,  tlie  study  of  the  entire  .Scriptures,  in  both  Testiimenis; 
Jms  called  fortii  an  unparalleled  wcidth  of  learning,  skill  and  devotion 
in  the  unfolding  and  enforcement  of  the  lessons  ;  liaa  proved  tliat  ih.: 
same  portions  of  Scripture  can  bo  used  for  tlie  oldest  and  tlie  youngest 
scholars  ;  has  opened  the  way  for  Christian  co-operation  in  tlio  most 
practical  interest  of  joint  concera,  and  has  rooted  the  Scriptures  more 
deeply  in  the  tuith  and  love  of  God's  people.  While  liolding  them- 
selves open  to  minor  changes,  such  as  experience  may  suggest,  the 
delegates  from  Canada  -n-ould  thorougidy  deprecate  material  variations 
from  the  system  now  in  operation.  In  conclusion,  tliey  tender  their 
most  respectfid  and  hearty  thanks  to  the  committee  of  selection,  wlio 
liave  so  ably,  skilfully,  and  faithfully  discharged  their  inipurlant  and 
laborious  task." 

Tiio  resolutions  were  agreed  to  unanimously. 


Tempeeakce. 

liesolced — Tliat  with  c-mphasis  wo  give  csplvssion  to  a  cou'.iction, 
whicli  deepens  with  tlie  passing  years,  that  every  Sabbath  school  shoidd 
be  in  fact  and  effect  a  temperance  training  school,  fitting  the  risijig 
generation  for  active  and  aggressive  effort  in  this  and  every  other  de- 
partment of  Christian  work.  We  trust  the  time  may  speedily  come 
when  every  officer,  teacher,  and  scholar  in  om*  Sunday  schools  shall, 
by  example  and  precept,  practise  and  promote  temperance ;  when  none 
shall  follow  the  bad  precedent  of  him  who  asked,  "Am  T  my  brother's 
ieeper  ?  " 

Tiie  resolution  was  agreed  to  nem.  con.  bv  a  t<landing  vote. 


Missions  in  Aftiica. 

Tlie  Ecr.  W.  Smalltvood  (Massachiiset/x)  :  I  w.int  to  offer  fhis 
resolution,  actuated  by  the  highest  personal,  as  well  as  Clirisiiiin 
motives : — 

jResohttioii.— That  we,  the  delegates  in  the  World's  Sunday  School 
Convention  assembled,  commend  to  Almighty  God  the  efforts  of  Bishop 
Taylor  and  liis  fellow  missionaries  for  the  redemption  of  Africa.  And 
that  we  pray  for  the  day  when  Great  Britain  and  America  shall  not 
allow  a  single  gallon  of  intoxicating  liquor  to  be  shipped  from  their 
countries  mto  that  benighted  land. 

This  proposal  is  in  advocacy  of  a  principle  that  coucern.'S  one  of  the 


410  Airpendix. 

darkest  contincuLs  in  the  workl.  "VVe  have  talked  of  Scotland  and  of 
Ireland  ;  we  have  spoken  of  India,  and  of  many  other  portions  of  the 
globe  ;  bxit  when  I  think  of  Bishop  Taylor  and  his  followers  plunging 
into  Africa  to  establish  God's  church  and  the  Sunday  school  work 
tliere,  this  "World's  Convention  seems  to  me  to  be  the  proper  occasion 
for  commending  him  and  them  to  God  and  to  their  friends. 

Adopted  as  amended  by  executive  committee. 


PUEITiT. 

Resolved — That  we  are  in  sympathy  with  those  who  are  striving  to 
protect  the  homes  of  the  people  from  the  encroachments  of  every  form 
of  vice,  and  who  would  make  them  the  abodes  of  temperance,  of  piety, 
and  personal  pm-ity. 

The  resolution  was  agreed  to  nem.  con.  by  a  standing  vote. 


Mkrcx  Bands. 

Mr.  E.  Towers  (Secretary)  :  The  executive  committee  have  approved 
of  the  resolution  as  submitted  to  the  Convention,  in  reference  to  the 
Mercy  Band  Movement. 

Hesolved — That  the  World's  Sunday  School  Convention  heartily 
approves  of  the  Universal  Mercjf  Band  Movement,  with  its  American 
and  British  Empire  Divisions,  containing  over  600,000  members  in 
734-1  bands  ;  forming  a  great  international  order  of  kindness,  justice, 
peace,  and  mercy  to  all,  and  protection  from  cruelty  for  women, 
cliildren,  and  dumb  creatures,  and  wishes  that  movement  God-speed 
in  its  career  of  growing  usefidness. 

Tlie  resolution  was  aflhined. 


Basis  ot?  Future  Action. 

liesoloed — This  Convention  of  Sunday  school  workers  from  all 
lands,  recognizes  the  gracioiis  favour  of  Almighty  God,  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  om*  meetings,  and  is  deeply 
conscious  of  the  importance  of  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged,  and 
the  great  need  there  is  that  Sunday  school  work  in  aR  lands  be  im- 
proved and  extended.  In  order  to  forestall  adverse  criticism,  and  to 
reach  a  well-deJojied  basis  of  future  action,  we  recommend  the  following 
statement  as  an  embodiment  of  the  aim  and  object  of  the  World's 
Sunday  School  Convention,  viz. :  (1)  To  arouse  entlnisiasra  by  Con- 
ventions and  Institutes  in  the  Sunday  school  work  of  all  lands,  and 
promote  acquaintance  and  fellowship  among  the  workers  engaged  in 


llcsdhilidiis   Aili'jitril.  -Ill 

tlic  lickl.  (2)  To  present  in  tlio.so  Conventions  the  best  jnethods  of 
work  in  every  department  of  Sniulay  school  activity,  by  nu-ans  of  buch 
spealicrs  as  shall  have  pi'ovcd  themselves  specialists  in  their  several  de- 
partments. (3)  To  co-operate  vvitli  National  and  other  Sunday  School 
Associations  along  the  lino  of  more  ell'eetive  organisation,  or,  where  no 
such  associations  exist,  to  endeavour  to  help  in  their  foiination 
(4)  That  a  committee  be  appointed  on  Sunday  School  "Work  tlu'oughout 
the  World ;  that  this  committee  consist  of  live  from  the  United  King- 
dom, three  from  the  United  States,  one  from  Canada,  and  one  or  more 
from  other  countries  co-operating  as  may  be  found  necessary  in  the 
judgment  of  the  members  of  the  committee  previously  nauK-d.  This 
committee  may  appoint  well-known  and  experienced  workers  to  assist 
in  tliis  work,  and  pay  them  for  such  service,  providing  the  means  neces- 
sary therefor  be  provided.  That  this  committee  continue  hi  ofllce  until 
the  second  Convention  of  Sunday  school  workers  thi'oughout  the  world 
is  held ;  and  this  committee  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  among  their 
own  number,  and  to  add  to  the  number  of  representatives  fiom  every 
nation,  as  soon  as  proper  persons,  fairly  representing  the  nation  or 
country,  are  named. 

N.B. — This  resolution   was  accepted  m  principle   subject  to   any 
necessai'v  alteration  in  its  terms. 


Loed's  Dax  Oesesyance. 
Memorial  to  the  Crovnied  Heads  of  Em-ope. 
That  the  delegates  to  the  World'a  Sunday  School  CouTention  now 
assembled  in  London,  and  representuig  many  Christian  lands  and  many 
millions  who  are  mtcrcsted  in  Sunday  school  work,  feel  constrained  by 
love  to  God  and  irgard  for  our  fellow-man  most  respectfully  to  present 
this  memorial  to  your  Majesty.  We  have  ample  evidence  that  Sabbath 
school  work  has  made  midtitudes  intelligent,  self-respecting,  diligent  in 
duty,  and  faithful  to  obligations,  because  the  Scriptures  teach  them  to 
fear  God  and  to  honour  constituted  authority.  We  have  also  brought 
to  us  the  evidence  that  this  beneficent  work  is  particularly  difllcult  in 
many  lauds  by  the  practical  disregard  of  the  Divinely  ordered  day  of 
rest.  Moved  by  these  considerations,  we  with  one  accord  by  our  officers 
earnestly  petition  your  Majesty  that,  by  your  personal  influence  and  by 
tiie  constitutional  power  in  your  Majesty's  hands,  you  will  secure  for 
the  day  of  weekly  rest  the  place  given  it  in  that  Decalogue  wliich  all 
Christian  lands  recognize,  and  for  the  good  of  the  people  and  for  the 
gloiy  of  God  promote  its  recognition  as  a  "  delight,  holy  of  the  Lord  and 
Iiouom-able."  In  bringing  to  the  consideration  of  yom-  Majesty  this 
important  matter,  we  do  not  forget  that  in  the  lands  we  represent  the 
Holy  Day  is  often  degraded  and  ignored.  These  evils  we  deeply  deplore 
and  in  our  phT-e?  enrnestly  oppose,  and  we  feel  a^f'iu-cd  that  action  in 


412  A^qjcndix. 

the  direction  of  Sabbath  observance  on  the  part  of  your  Majesty  and 
the  nation  over  which,  in  the  providence  of  Ahnighty  God,  yon  are 
placed,  Avould  tend  to  strengthen  a  sentiment,  national  and  international, 
in  favour  of  the  reverent  use  of  the  seventh  day,  on  which  our  Creator 
rested,  for  an  example  to  man,  and  which  is  linked  throughout  Christen- 
dom with  the  rising  from  the  dead  of  oiu'  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour. 


Independence  Day  in  Ameeica. 

That  the  English  and  Colonial  delegates  at  the  Convention  congratu- 
late very  heartily  their  American  brothers  and  sisters  on  this  auspicious 
day,  and  trust  that  its  anniversary,  spent  in  this  country  and  luider 
these  happy  circumstances,  may  be  fraught  with  many  pleasant  reminis- 
cences. 


Extension  op  the  Work  in  India. 

The  President  submitted  from  the  executive  committee  the  follow- 
ing recommendation,  which  was  imanimously  adopted  by  the  Conven- 
tion : — "  Eecommeuded  that  an  Organizing  Secretary  be  appointed  for 
Sunday  school  Extension  and  Work  in  India,  and  that  the  payment  of 
this  secretary  be  left  with  the  executive  Convention  committee." 


Statistical  Seceetaries. 
Hesolved— That  Mr.  Fountain  J.  Hartley  and  Mi'.  Payson  E.  Porter 
be  elected  Statistical  Secretaries  for  the  World's  Sunday  School  Conven- 
tion, and  that  the  statistics  of  tliis  Convention  be  thoroughly  revised 
before  publication. 


Letter  oe  Greeting. 
The  Eirst  Day  or  Sunday  Schooi  Society  oe  Philadelphia, 

The  American  Sunday  School  Union. 

No.  1123  Chestnut  Street, 

FhiladelpUa,  June  18,  1889. 
To  the 

Honoraiy  Secretaries, 

World's  Sunday  School  Convention, 
London,  England. 
Dear  Brethren,— The  First-Day  or   Sunday  School  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  organized  January  11,  1791,  sends  its  greeting  to  the 


]t<  Siihltiniis    Athijiliil.  413 

"World's  SuikImv  Siliodl  t'diivciitioii   in   Ijondoii,  .Tunc,  ISSO,  with  its 
fraternal  salutations. 

The  Fii-st-Day  Society  was  organized  to  establish  sschools  on  tlio 
first  day  of  the  week  to  teach  the  neglected  and  ignorant  reading  and 
writing  from  the  Eible,  ai\d  siieh  other  nioi-al  and  religious  hooks  us 
the  society  might  direct.  As  a  fitting  device  it  adopted  an  open  I5ilile, 
with  this  inscription,  Licet  Sabbatis  Benefacere — "It  is  lawful  to  do 
well  on  the  Sabbath."  It  employed  paid  teachers,  issued  a  number  of 
suitable  books,  cards,  and  tracts  which  were  loaned  to  the  sclioiars, 
and  carried  forward  its  work  on  the  plan  of  paid  teachers  until  about 
1817-19  ;  since  that  time  the  income  of  the  society  has  been  expended 
in  making  grants  of  inidenominational  publications  to  needy  Sunday 
schools  in  Philadelphia  and  vicinity.  The  present  annual  income  of 
the  society  is  somewhat  less  than  1000  dollars. 

As  the  oldest  existing  society'  of  the  kind,  its  members  deem  it  fitting 
to  send  this  cordial  letter  with  our  fraternal  wishes,  and  our  hearty 
rejoicings  over  the  wonderful  growtli  and  the  blessed  results  of  the 
Sabbath  school  system. 

In  behalf  of  its  board  of  \isif  ors, 

Very  rcspectfidly  yoiu-s, 
Edwin  W.  Rick,  j 

James  M.  CkowjiLI-,  >  Committee. 

MosELEY  U.  Williams,  ) 

Fredeuick  Scofield,  President,      1122  Chestnut  Street.  \ 

Rev.  Edwin  W.  Rice,  D.D.,  Vice-President,        „  \  nir 

'  '  »        1'  \  Officers. 

Thomas  Cooper,  Treasurer,  „  I 

Alexander  Faulkner,  Secretary,  „  ^ 

Board  of  Visitors. 
Frederice  Scofield.  Frederick  P.  BrcK. 

Rev.  Edwin  W.  Rice,  D.D.  Alexander  Faulk.neu. 

Thomas  Cooper.  Joseph  Shirley. 

Rev.  James  M.  Crowell,  D.D.         Robert  A.  Xvle. 
Rev.  MosELEr  H.  Williams.  W.  H.  Hirst. 

Rev.  E.  H.  Toland.  Reuben  Griffith. 

William  McCaeter. 

Letters  of  Regret  on  account  of  Absence  from  Convention. 

"  Toronto,  23rd  June,  18S9. 

"  Mt  Dear  Friend, — I  scarcely  know  how  to  wi-ito  you.  I  feel 
that  no  matter  how  I  put  it  you  may  feel  I  do  not  recognize  the  honour 
done  me  in  naming  me  as  Chairman  of  the  World's  Meeting  in  the 
interest  of  Sabbath  schools,  and  that  I  should  have  managed  at  all 
hazards  to  be  with  you.  The  case  iu  wliich  I  was  engaged  on  the  14th 
of  Mav  is  stUl  progressing,  and  will  not  be  over  until  the  1st  of  Jidy. 

ji#  #  «  I  trust  the  meetings  will  do  much  to  cement  the  brethren. 


414  Apiwndl.i:. 

I  am  more  tlievii  e\ov  grateful  for  the  good  Lord  leading  iis  to  a 
union  in  tliis  work  1 1  draws  ns  together  so  wonderfully ;  gives  the 
world  an  exhibit  of  the  oneness  there  is  amongst  Christians  ;  and 
strengthens  me  much  in  the  work  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  io  con- 
template the  fact  that  by  the  million  tlie  followers  of  Jesus  arc  poring 
over  the  same  passage  of  the  Word,  and  that  there  is  not  a  quarter  of 
the  globe  in  whicli  there  is  not  this  great  bond  binding  ns  together  in 
our  work.  May  all  things  be  done  to  strengthen  this  tie.  AVill  you 
please  be  the  bearer  of  all  kmd  and  fraternal  greetings  to  om*  lo\cd 
brethi-en  in  the  Master's  service  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mater.  "Wo 
often  look  to  the  old  land  with  thankfulness  of  heart  ■\\'hen  we  oonteni' 
plate  how  much  we  owe  to  our  fathers  there  in  starting  ns  aright  in 
so  many  phases  of  Chi-istian  work  ;  and  sm-ely  it  may  be  said  by  ns 
of  oiu*  great  mother,  the  Queen,  'her  children  arise  up,  and  call  licr 
blessed.'  "We  look  forward  expectantly  to  results  that  will  be  well 
pleasing  to  Jesus  in  the  better  feeding  and  caving  for  the  lambs  of  His 
flock. 
B.  F.  JaoobSj  Esq.  S,  H,  BiiKE," 

Dayton^  Ohio,  U.S.A. 

June  13,  1S89. 

To  the  Chairman  and  Members  of  the  "World's  Sunday  School  Con^ 
vention,  at  London,  July  2-5,  1889. 

"  Deae  Bkethebn, — "Will  you  kmdly  permit  me,  as  a  member  of  tho 
International  Lesson  Committee,  and  as  a  duly  appointed  delegate  to 
the  "World's  Convention,  but  prevented  li-om  being  present  with  you  by 
reason  of  the  serious  illness  of  my  dear  wife,  who  is  also  appointed  a 
delegate  with  me,  to  extend  to  you  in  this  manner  my  most  fervent 
greetings,  and  the  assurance  of  my  eai-nest  prayers  that  you  may  have 
a  most  auspicious  and  dehghtsome  assembling.  I  trust  that  the  Con- 
vention may  coutribiite  greatly  to  the  promotion  of  brotherly  fellowship 
and  Christian  imity  among  you  as  the  representatives  of  all  lands,  and 
especially  to  the  fiu'therance  of  the  great  work  which  interests  us  aU  so 
deeply,  and  to  which  we  look  with  so  much  hope  as  one  of  the  most 
potent  agencies  for  futm'e  achievement  in  bringing  the  whole  world  to 
the  feet  of  Jesus. 

""With  considerations  of  profoundest  fraternal  regard,  I  beg,  dear 
brethren,  to  be  esteemed  your  humble  fellow-labom-er  and  servant  in 
the  work,  D.  Bergee." 


(   -il.-.  ) 


i.\  Di: X. 


AboiJeoii,  ijoicl,  oil   tliC  l^piicr  Classes  in 

Sunday  schools,  207, 
Aberdeen,  Ckmntoss  of,  Recreative  Evening 

Classes,  311. 
Addresses  of  ^Velcome,  Replies  to,  22. 
Adult  Bible  Classes,  230. 
Africa,  Missions  in.  Kesolution  on,  -100, 
Anilorsou,  Mr,,  on  Lord's  day  Observance, 

182. 
"Apostle  of  Mercy,  The,"  150. 

Bachman,  Pastor,  Piiper  read  by,  51. 
Bailey,  Mr.  Jas.,  Bible  Study  for  Scholars, 

173. 
Bands  of  Hope,  238. 
Belsey,  Mr.  F.  F.,  his  welcome  to  delegates, 

20  ;  chosen  President  of  Convention,  31  ; 

introduces  Countess  of  Aberdeen,  210. 
Berger,  Eev.  Dr.,  Letter  from,  414. 
Bemstorff,  Count,  at  Mansion   House,  0  ; 

response  to  Address  of  Welcome,   24  ; 

Speech  at  Exeter  Hall,  353. 
Bible  Study  proper  for  Scholars,  Methods 

of,  173. 
Bible,  The,  and  the  Sunday  school,  155,  173. 
Bingham,  Prof.  6.   \V.,   Resolution  as  to 

T>r.  Pwandolph's  Report  on  International 

Lesson  System,  123. 
Blake,  Hon.  S.  H.,  Letter  from,  413. 
Bradley,  Prof.  Chas.  F.,  ou  Christian  Ku- 

deavour  Societies,  22G. 
Briscoe,  Rev.  J.  T.,  349. 
Boys'  Brigade,  25'.'. 
Brown,  Rev.  Hubert  ^V'.,  Paper  by,  109. 

Carton,  Dr.,  94. 

Chidlaw,  P^ev.  B.  W.,  15,  94,  2S9. 

Christian  Endeavour  Societies  in  Sunday 

schools,  226. 
City  Temple  (Dr.  Parker's),  Meetings  held 

at,  31,  71,  94,  114,  150,  210,  269,  299,  332. 
Clarke,  Mr.  B.,  Paper  by,  132. 
Clarke,    Rev.    E.,  on   Sunday  schools  in 

Italy,  325. 


Closing  Meethig,  ICxetir  ll.ill,  ::l-j. 
Congregational  .Aleiuorla!  Hall,  I'ridlmin.iry 

Meeting,  15  ;  .Seventh  .Session,  1S2. 
Conventions  ami  Institutes,  205. 
Cowdcn,  Mr.,  Address  by,  2U5. 
Crowned  Heads  of  Europe,  .Memorial  to, 

411. 
Cuyler,  Rev.  Dr.,  Response  to  ^Vcl^•om>•,  22. 

Daily  Bible  Reading  Organizatiuii.s  1 15. 

Delegates,  List  of,  383. 

Dixon,  Rev.  Dr.,  at  Mansion  lloitsc,  U. 

IioUis  HiU  (Lord  Aberdeen's),  377. 

Drawing-room  Classes,  2C6. 

Duncan,  \V.  A.,  Ph.  D.,  Paper  by,  2:11. 

Edwards,  Mr.  T.,  Paper  by,  43. 
Election  of  OCQcers  of  Convention,  31. 
Exeter  Hall,  Closing  Meeting,  3J'J. 
Examinations,  Tc.ichers  and  Scholar.-,  isl. 
Extension  of  the  Work  in  India,  412. 

Faithful  Bible  Study  essential  t»  Spiriiu.il 

Life,  155. 
Farewell  Meeting  at  DoUis  Hill.  37 T. 
Fetzer,  Prof.  J.  G.,  Paj^er  by,  57. 
Field,  The,  that  Invites  us,  299. 
Forci;a  Sunday  schuul  work  »r  Aui<  li  ;i, 

69. 
Fulton,  Rev.  Dr.,  on  Lord'sd.\v  (Jbjervanvc, 

179,  29S. 
Future  Action,  Basis  of,  410. 

Gibson,    Rev.   Dr.   .T.    Monro,  ou     Iul;r- 

nation.al  Lessons,  125. 
Gladstone,  Dr.  J.   H.,  r.n.s.,   Pajter  by, 

260. 
Glover,  Rev.  R.,  31 ;  address  by,  155. 
Green,  Mr.  B.  L.,  on  VisitatioD,  19S. 
Green,  Kev.  T..  332. 
Greig.  Mons.,  Address  by,  64. 
Griffin,  Col.,  at  Mansion  Houac,  12. 
Groser.  Bfr.  W.  H.,  B.Sc.,  on  Normal  and 

Training  CUsses,  188. 


410 


Lide. 


Hackney,  Riv.  W'.,  on  Bible  Study,  16". 
llall,  I!ev.   Dr.    Jubn,  Eesjionse   to   Wel- 
come, 22;  resolutiuu  on  services  rendered 
to  International  Lesson  S3'stom,  125  ;  on 
Study    of    Bible,     161;     298,   329,    344; 
Speech  at  Exeter  Hall,  359. 
Ilargreaves,  llev.  Grauiger,  Paper  b}',  100. 
Harlow,  Jliss  Annie  S.,  I'aper  by,  220. 
Hartley,  Jlr.  Fountain  J.,  Paper  by,  33; 

chosen  a  Statistical  Secretary.  340,  345. 
Heylirock,  Mr.  J.  M.,  P.iper  by,  61. 
Hitclicock,  Mr.  G.  M.,  on  Lord's  day  Obser- 
vance, 183  ;  Address,  351. 
Holmes,   Rev.    \V.   T.,   on   Examinations,    | 
1S4.  I 

Home  Classes  of  the  Sunday  school,  291.  ' 

Home  Heading  Circles,  245.  | 

Independence  Day  in  America,  412.  ] 

Xndia,  Extension  of  the  Work  in,  412. 
India,  Sunday  school  Work  in,  334. 
International   Bible  Heading    Association, 

149. 
International  Convention  for  Sunday  school 
"Workers  in  all  lands,  Resolution  as  to 
Second  Convention,  323. 
International    Lesson    Committee,  Report 

of,  115. 
International  Lesson  List,  150. 
International  Lesson  Plan,  114. 
Ireland,  Sunday  school  Work  in,  332. 
Italy,  Sunday  schools  in,  325. 

Jacobs,  Mr.  B.  F.,  at  Preliminary  Meeting, 
15 ;  at  Second  Session,  31 ;  Paper  by, 
78,  114;  on  Extension,  319;  on  next 
Convention,  place  of,  340 ;  Speech  at 
Exeter  Hall,  366. 

Jacobs,  Mr.  AV.  B.,  reads  Mr.  Duncan's 
paper,  291. 

Jaulmes,  Pasteur  C,  on  International 
Lesson  List,  152. 

Junes,  Rev.  W.,  Remarks  by,  32T. 

Kelly,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  on  Means  to  be 
adopted  for  Extension,  314. 

King,  Mr.  E.  D.,  response  to  Welcome,  23. 

Kinnaird,  Lord,  at  Mansion  House,  10 ; 
welcome  to  Delegates,  IS;  on  the  Upper 
Classes  and,  Sunday  Schools,  293  ;  pre- 
^ides  at  Closing  JMeeting,  Exeter  Hall, 
319. 

Laing,  Mr.  F.  A.,  Paper  by,  269. 
Lelievre,  Pasteur,  on  International  Lesson 

List,  150. 
Lesson  Helps,  132. 
Lesson  System,  Resolutions  on,  403. 


L'jtters  of  Regret  on  account  of  Absence 

from  the  Convention,  413,  414. 
Livingston,  Mr.  Neil,  330. 
Lord  Jlayor  of  London,  The,  Reception  of 

Delegates  bj',  1. 
Lord's  Daj'Ob.servance,  1T9,  182;  memorial 

to  Crowned  Heads  of  Europe,  liesolution 

on,  411. 

]\Iacfadyeu,  Rev.  Dr.,  Paper  l)y,  299. 

McCallum,  Mr..  343. 

McKillican,  Rev.   Juo.,  Speech  at  Exeter 

Hall,  356. 
McLean,  Mr.,  341. 
McNeill,  Rev.  Jno.,  Speech  bj',  326. 
Management  of  Sunday  schools,  210,  269. 
Mansion  House,  Reception  of  Delegates  at, 

1. 
^larling.  Rev.  F.  H.,  at  Mansion  House,  8  ; 
presents    resolution    re  Dr.    Randolph's 
Report,  124. 
Means  to  be  adopted,  311. 
IMollors,  Mr.  Councillor,  I'aper  by,  239.  '  '' 
Memorial    to   Crowned  Heads  of  Einope, 

Resolution  on,  411. 
Memorising  the  Lesson,  269. 
Mercy  Bands,  Resolution  on,  410. 
INIethods  of  Bible  Study  for  Scholars,  173. 
Miles,  Mr.  Alfred  H.,  Paper  by,  276. 
Missionaries,  Paid  and  Voluntary,  191. 
Missions  in  Africa,  Resolution  on,  409. 
Moore,  Rev.  George  W.,  Paper  by,  88. 
Music  and  Worship  in  the  Sunday  school, 
276. 

Normal  and  Training  Classes,  18S. 
Norton,  Mr.  Councillor,  328. 

Observance  of  the  Lord's  Daj-,  182. 
Officers  of  Convention,  Election  of,  31. 
Organised  Sunday  School  Wouk  : — 

Among  the  Chinese,  100. 

Among  coloured  people  of  the  U.S.A., 
83. 

In  Canada,  72. 

Ill  India,  95,  334. 

In  Mexico,  109. 

In  Great  Britain,  33. 

In  the  United  States  of  America,  75. 

On  the  Continent  of  Europe,  43, 51,  57, 61, 
64,  67. 
Organizing  Secretary  for  India,  Resolution 

recommending  the  appointment,  412. 

Paid   .iiid   Voluntary  Sunday  School  Mis- 
sionaries, 194. 
Paton,  Rev.  Dr.,  Paper  by,  245. 


I  mi 


ex. 


•117 


I'elouljct,  llcv.  iJr.,  I'apor  by,  137. 

I'ersia,  Sundiiy  school  Work  iu,  343. 

I'eterseii,  Uev.  I'ruiik,  338. 

I'liilaJelpliia,  I'list  iJuy  or  Sunday  ScUool 
.S<jclcty  of,  413. 

I'iti,  Mr.  Councillor,  Paper  by,  230. 

I'li-asant  Sund,iy  Afternoons,  "iSa. 

i'ool,  Uev.  J.  J.,  rup.-r  by.  90. 

Porter,  Mr.  E.  I'ayson,  75. 

Preliminary  Meeting  at  tUe  Congregational 
iMeiuorial  Hall,  15. 

President  of  Couvenlioii  cbosen,  31  ;  Ad- 
dress, 3'2. 

Primary  Classes  of  America,  21 C. 

Primary  Work,  220. 

Published  Lesson  Helps,  in  England,  132  i 
in  America,  137. 

Purity,  Ilesolution  on,  410. 


Uandulph,  P^ev.  Dr.,  presents  report  of  In- 
ternational Lesson  Couiniittce,  IID  ;  on 
international  Lesson  List,  153. 

Keasons  for  Extension,  299,  414. 

]ieceptiun  at  Mansion  House,  1. 

llecrcative  Evening  Classee,  211. 

llesolutlons  adopted  during  Meetings  of 
Convention,  40s. 

Uespouses  to  Lord  Mayor'.s  Address,  5-14. 

Ueview  of  Convention,  332. 

lUiles  of  Convention,  31. 


Sautter,  Mons.  L.,  response  to  Welcotne, 
2i!. 

Schautfler,  Rev.  A.  J.,  Paper  b}-,  233. 

.Scott,  Kev.  C.  C,  lieniarks  by,  32S. 

Selection  of  Lessons,  125. 

Shalders,  Rev.  E.  W.,  15. 

.Smith,  Mr.  Boston  W.,  Paper  by,  194. 

Smith,  Mr.  ^V.  A.,  Paper  by,  252. 

•Statistics,  Sunday  school,  405-7. 

Statistical  Secretaries  appointed  by  Con- 
vention, 412. 


Stott,  itirt).,  on  Sunday  .schools   in  Cliiua 
105. 

Study  of  the  whole  Iliblc,  161. 

Sunday  Afternoon  Adult  Ulble  CU.'U!C.<i,230. 

Sunday  .School  Organizations,  e.vistiug  value 
of,  182. 

Sunday  school  Statistics  of  all  Nation'^,  4  05; 
for  United  Suites  and  llritish  AuuTicaii 
Provina^s,  4uC  ;  of  United  States  cities  of 
100,000  population  and  over,  407. 

Sweden,  What  the  Itihle  has  done  for,  334. 

Teacher,  The,  and  bis  Class,  283. 
Temperance,  Resolution  on,  409. 
Thanks  to  President  of  Convention.   34  I  ; 

to  15.   V.  Jacobs,  345  ;   to  Hon.  Sees,  uf 

Sunday  Scliool  Union,  34S. 
Timmins,  Rev.  Thomas,  150. 
Towers,   Mr.   94;   reads  Mr.   Hargreaves' 

paper,  100. 

Upper  Classes,  The,  and  Sunday  schools, 

297. 
Ussing,  Rev.  IL,  about  Denmark.  07. 

Visitation  of  Local  Unions  and  Bchools, 
193. 

Wakely,  Mr.  C,  Paper  by,  253. 

Waters,  Mr.  C,  145. 

Welcome,  to  delegates,  addresses  of,  18-21  ; 

replies  to,  22-30. 
Wheeler,  Mrs.  E.  G.,  Paper  by,  216. 
AVliipplc,  Rev.  AV.  L.,  343. 
Whitehead,  Mr.  Alderman  (Lord  Mayor  of 

London),  reception  of  delegates,  1. 
Williams,    Rev.    I'eilr,   Speech    at    E.\oler 

Hall,  301. 
Witlirow,  Dr.,  Report  of,  72. 
Work,  The,  reported,  31;  examined,  114  ; 

improved,  1S2  ;  extended,  299. 
Woodruff,  Pvcv.    H.   C,  1>.U.,    on    Foreign 

Sunday  school  Work  of  American  Sunday 

School  Union,  C9  ;  Paper  by,  307. 


-lis  ADVEETISEMENTS. 


THE    INTERNATIONAL 

BIBLE     READING    ASSOCIATION 

(See  Paper  on  "  Daily  Bible  Reading  Organizations,"  p.  1-15) 

HAS    ENROLLED    NEARLY 

A   QUARTER  OF  A  MILLION  MEMBERS 

In  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  America  and  Australasia, 

THE  OBJECT  of  this  Association  is  to  promote  the  more  general  and  regular 
perusal  of  God's  Word. 

THE  PLAN  is  TOPICAti,  and  the  course  of  subjects  is  that  of  the  INTER- 
NATIONAL LESSONS  which  are  being  used  by  Sunday  Schools,  Bible  Classes, 
itc,  in  all  parts  of  the  -world.  The  subject  for  the  following  .Sunday  being  read  on 
Jlonday,  the  readings  for  the  other  days  of  the  week  consist  of  short  portions  of  about 
ten  verses,  chosen  from  vaiious  parts  of  Scripture,  suitable  for  general  reading  and 
illustrative  of  the  facts  or  teaching  of  the  lesson. 

THE  ADVANTAGES  of  the  method  are  many.  It  is  an  excellent  prepara- 
tion both  for  Teachers  and  Scholars ;  it  helps  to  interest  the  parents  in  the  Sunday 
School,  and  has  been  the  meuns  of  establishing  family  worship  where  belore  neglected. 
It  is  a  daily  reminder  of  the  Sunday  associations,  and  when  absent  from  the  class  by 
leasoii  of  sickness  or  distance,  the  continuity  of  the  subject  is  still  maintained.  The 
fact  of  each  day's  portion  having  relation  to  the  topic,  must  also  conduce  to  thoughtful 
reading. 

THE  MEMBERS  include  Pastor?,  Teachers,  Scholars,  Parents,  and  any  others 
wlio  undertake  to  re.-id  the  daily  portions  and  subscribe  to  the  Association  one  penny 
annually  if  connected  with  a  bruncb,  or  twopence-halfpenny  if  not.  Members  can 
join  at  any  time,  but  all  subscriptions  must  be  renewed  at  the  close  of  the  year. 
They  will  receive  a  card  of  membership  and  monthly  hints  on  the  daily  readings, 
])ost  free. 

A  BRANCH  may  be  formed  by  ten  members  and  upw.ai-ds,  iu  any  Churcli, 
Sunday  School,  Bible  Class,  &c.  The  duties  of  the  Secretary  are  to  correspond  with 
the  central  office,  keep  a  register  of  the  members,  sign  and  issue  the  cards  and 
monthly  hints.     The  office  is  in  many  cases  efficiently  filled  by  a  lady. 

MEMBERSHIP  CARDS  are  issued  only  to  members  personally,  or  through 
Branch  Secretaries.  Applications  for  cards  should  stat';  ttic  name  of  the  Sunday 
School,  itc,  and  where  it  is  situated.  The  amount  of  the  subscriptions  in  Money 
Order  or  Postal  Order  (crossed  "  Union  Bank,"  and  payable  to  AVilliam  Ssuth) 
must  be  sent  with  the  application.  Ten  cards  are  sent  post  free;  if  less  than  ten 
are  applied  for,  an  extra  halfpenny  stamp  must  be  sent  for  postage. 

All  communications  should  be  addressed  to  the  Honorary  Secretary  of  the 
Association,  Mr.  U.  Waters,  56,  Old  Bailey,  London,  EC. 

YOUNG   PEOPLE'S 

SOCIETY  OF  CHRISTIAN  ENDEAYOUF. 

(See  Paper  on  "  Christian  Endeatour  Societies  in  Sunday 

Schools,"  p.  226) 
The  object  of  this  Society  is  to  promote  Christian  life  tiiid  activity 
araoug  the  yoxiug.  Each  Society  is  iutended  to  devote  its  energies 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  Church  with  ■which  it  is  associated.  Full 
particulars,  -with  suggested  constitution,  &c.,  ■will  be  found  in  a 
pamphlet  by  Eev.  F.  E.  Clark,  founder  of  the  movement,  i^rice 
One  Penny,  post  free  three-halfpence.  Address — Hon.  Sec.  British 
Section,  Y.P.S.C.E.,  5G,  Old  Bailey,  London. 

AT    THE    BECENT     CONVENTION    IN    PHILADELPHIA 

THEKE  WERE  REPORTED 

7,67S  SOCIETIES,  ENROLLING-  485,000  MEMBEHS. 


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